We serve a faithful God, who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His word has not changed. Over thousands of years, it continues to be relevant for instruction, historical context and comfort. In the pages of every book the gospel, good news, can be found. We are never without hope because God is real and his word is true. God calls us, who are called by His name (Christians), to be Holy and faithful to Him.
Isaiah 1:15-20 KJV
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
While God is speaking, here, specifically to the people of Israel, there are important characteristics about Him, what He likes and how He will respond to people, who are called by His name.
- He will not hear our prayers while we are unrepentant. So long as we are content in sinful disobedience, not admitting we are wrong, not turning from sin, He cannot hear our praises or requests.
- He tells us how to leave evil behind and move forward. Stop doing evil, learn to do right. Seek justice, relieve those who are being oppressed. Do not take advantage of, but have compassion on widows and orphans. Psalm 82
- He warns that He is reasonable and what He wants fulfills both our desires as His. There are consequences for our choices. He is God, Almighty, who judges all others that manipulate and deceive human beings. In His mercy, HE will expose all false gods. We choose, He has spoken it.
Right now, today. In our country there is a lot of “Christians”, who are not committed to God. They are holding tightly to their sin and can’t figure out why they aren’t able to have God’s blessed work in their life. God is just, merciful and good. These are only three characteristics that have and always will be true, about our God. He sent His Son, Jesus to live Holy among us. He worked, laughed, cried, felt pain and loved but remained true to His Father. Then He, willingly, died for us and rose from the grave, just as God said He would. This gift of love, from God, fulfills the requirement, justly making forgiveness real. Taking it and leaving evil changes us from the inside out.
If you know that God is real, you must accept Jesus and leave your sinful desires. Total surrender to Jesus will change you. Let go, daily, asking God for the strength to resist temptation. We look around and see the pain, sorrow and evil. God can and will change it but it must happen individually. Each of us are responsible for ourself, first, to God. We cannot change our nation if we do not justly deal with ourselves. This is how revival works. Let revival, first, be in me!
Mickey Kyler
