God's Word to the Wise

A Word to the Wise

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.

Here is an invitation for forgiveness. The Lord can only be found when our hearts are inclined to look for Him, and that inclination itself is a gift from God! In reformed parlance it is to be quickened by the Holy Spirit.

The raising of Lazarus gives us a clear example of what this quickening is. What was necessary before Lazarus could hear Jesus’ voice and respond to His command to come forth from the tomb? He had to first be made alive; quickened. This is what the prophet is pleading for the people to do. They have been made alive to hear his voice. Will they obey His command to forsake their evil ways and thoughts and submit to God?

How about you? Do you hear Jesus’ command to forsake/repent of your evil ways/sin and acknowledge it is only His intercessory atonement for (Your) sin that will warrant forgiveness and reconciliation with God?