Paid in Full?
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
Isaiah 1:18
On a journey have you ever been hungry that you stopped by a food vendor to order some food. You quickly took a bite and felt your body react with such appreciation as it was renewed. Reaching for your wallet or purse you realize it is missing. All of a sudden those positive emotions start ticking in the other direction with that realization you have nothing to pay with it. The vendor is reaching out to you with their hand open for payment. Do you really think they will understand that you forgot your purse at home? Are you in for an argument? a beating? arrest? Suddenly the vendor smiles in realization of your situation. They say do not worry “I will pay your bill you are free to go”. Why? How? is this some trick? You quickly say “Thank you” and this act of kindness slowly sinks in as you walk away expecting a call back which never comes.
From Isaiah 1:1 – 15 God has highlighted the desperate plight we find ourselves in. In fact if it was not for Him we would have been in desolate places. What makes it bad is we were blissfully walking in front of a oncoming train. His warnings have warned us of the imminent danger and are now frozen as we stare at the danger, without the power to move out of the way. Suddenly he reaches out His hand to snatch us out of the way this train right on our heels. The same questions run through our minds Why? How? is this some trick? Yet he bids us to a dialogue “Come let us settle the matter”. Now when a train is bearing down on us there really is no time to chit chat, we are nonetheless in danger. We may question the stranger who wants to lift us up and out of the tracks when we hear the train 5 kms away yet we may have more dare I say sufficient time to determine their sincerity and determine their plan to pull us out of danger. Time is of the essence and the Father full of love is gingerly reaching out, yearning for His child to reach out and be pulled out of the way of the danger at the door.
The Bible teaches of a principle called sin that blinds the minds of men. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 is is expressed as the “god of this age” who” has blinded the minds of unbelievers , so that they cannot see the light of the gospel” 2 Corinthians 4:4. From Isaiah it is clear it is not only those who are outside who are unbelievers but some who are in, that is why unlike the ox they cannot find their way home and have rebelled. Yet even having rebelled God says “Come let us reason together”. We had gone astray but he continues to call to us, He “demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8. Though we are in the wrong he will reason with us not only that, he will pay our debt, not in part but in full. What manner of love is this?
My friend are you aware that you are in imminent danger. God desires that we live life to the full, eternally. Sin however is leading us downwards, the sure “wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23. You are so invested in the things of this world that you have forgotten when you die all of these things will be of no use. God is calling us to realize there is something beyond all this, he is warning of a deception that does not affect those who are self proclaimed atheists but even Christians who have set up their own god, in their own image. He is calling us to a dialogue to learn of the true God and to accept his plan for your salvation. All he needs is your sincere permission and you will soon discover he has paid for our redemption in full.
