“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.” Isaiah 65:2
Dear Ones:
When we go to the book of Revelation, and we see in heaven the Lamb of God who approaches the throne, John describes him being “…as it had been slain.” (5:6) In other words, this slain Lamb bears in His body in heaven, the very scars, the testimony of His suffering love for us all. Though the book of Isaiah was written before the Lord Jesus came to dwell on this earth, there is the prophetical projection of the reality of His suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection in Isaiah’s words. Thus there is also the revelation of the very scars in his hands and side. After the resurrection, He would instruct Thomas: “Reach here thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” (Jn. 20:27) What do these events tell us? They declare to us the heart of God, who by the hands of His Son, is reaching out to mankind All THE DAY. God can do nothing greater to reveal His great love to us, than the unveiling of the very scars on Jesus’ hands, ever reaching out to us. The question is: Do we see them, and are we listening to what He is saying?
When Israel was confronted with this revelation, the Lord spoke of her being rebellious, “…walking in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.” (65:2) Here is the reason for most of the errant seeking after God. We “think” that we know how to get to Him, how to know Him. But we must understand that God is not known but according to the truth, and that truth is revealed in His word. This is why He says: “Listen diligently unto Me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live.” (Is. 55:2-3) What is the great issue when we are faced with the “thoughts, speculations, imaginations, and philosophies” of men? It is very simple: “So shall My WORD be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void (without effect).” (v.11) We are, above all else, to hear the word of the Lord, as revealed to us in the Bible.
Dear Father, You who have demonstrated to us Thy great love for us in the sacrifice of Your Son, give us to understand that Your arms are outstretched TODAY, and You wait to meet the deepest need of our souls. Give us grace to embrace Thy word, Thy will, and Thy way, above all others, knowing that You will truly meet us in the very depths of our souls, and hearts…TODAY. We praise Thee, and thank Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad