Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways, and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7
Are you at peace with God?
That’s a direct question, isn’t it! But I make no apology for asking it, because it’s the most important question we can ever ask ourselves, so there’s no excuse for beating about the bush.
The Bible tells us that not only were we made by God, but also for him. According to the creation story (Genesis 1-3) he made us in some unique sense like himself and intended us to enjoy an intimate and loving relationship with him. (I love that part of the story (Genesis 3:8) where God himself comes “walking in the garden” - the garden which he had given to Adam and Eve - “in the cool of the day”; what perfect peace and ease that conjures up!)
But that intimacy with God was broken by their disobedience, leading to a loss of peace and all sorts of misery and pain. In that same verse we read that Adam and Eve “hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden”; knowing that they had been disobedient, they were ashamed and frightened. (Not that “hiding” from God would do them any good, of course - how can you hide from the One who made all things and sees all things!)
Well, each one of us is Adam or Eve: we read in Romans 3:23 that all of us “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
And so the question arises: Can that fractured relationship be mended? Can we know peace with God again? And the answer? Yes! - a thousand times yes! Which is why the gospel is “good news”.
This greatest of all truths is opened up for us fully in the New Testament, focussing on Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and his rising again on the third day. But it is beautifully expressed too in various parts of the Old Testament, supremely here in Isaiah 55:6-7.
So... if you know that you are not at peace with God, I encourage you to take very seriously what the prophet says. He outlines four steps which, if you take them, will bring you that peace.
Step one: “Seek the Lord while he may be found...”
Seek. To seek something or someone suggests a serious, determined searching. You will never find peace if you look for God only vaguely or half-heartedly. And the words “while he may be found” suggest an urgency in this - a time will come when there will be no more opportunity. The time is now! - so don’t put it off.
Step two: “call on him while he is near.”
Call. This amounts to pretty much the same thing, but it pinpoints especially the key element in seeking, for to “call” is, above all, to pray. From beginning to end the Bible tells us that God’s ears are always open to the prayers of those whose hearts are humble and genuine.
A time comes for all of us when we need to close the door, shut out the noises of the world, perhaps even fall on our knees, and cry out to God. Simple, plain words are all that are needed - as long as they come from our hearts, that’s all that matters.
Have you reached that point yet? Could today be the day?
Step three: “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts...”
Forsake. To forsake something is to abandon it, to shun it - putting it bluntly, to dump it. This is part of what the Bible means by the word “repentance” - we not only feel bad about the things that separate us from God and destroy our peace; we also turn our backs on them and make up our minds to have nothing more to do with them.
It doesn’t happen all at once - repenting is in fact something we have to do every day of our lives. But this is the turning-point, and nothing will ever be the same again.
Step four: “Let them turn to the Lord...”
Turn. If forsaking is a turning away, here now is the turning to. Turning away from something that is bad is good, but it isn’t enough - we need also to turn to God, which means surrendering ourselves to him wholeheartedly and trusting ourselves to him.
Four steps - seek; call; forsake; turn.
And what happens when we take them? This... God will “have mercy” on us; he will “freely pardon”. No conditions. No ifs or buts. No heavy duties slapped on us, for Jesus has done all that needs to be done.
And why wouldn’t you have peace if you’ve been forgiven by God? Indeed, how could you not have peace!
So if you’ve never done so before, I invite you to take those four steps right now...
Lord God, I confess that I am a sinner in your sight. I turn away from all that is bad, all that separates me from you and spoils my life, and I put my trust in Jesus, who died and rose for me. So help me from his moment forward to live every day in glad obedience to you, and so to know your beautiful peace. Amen.
Are you at peace with God?
That’s a direct question, isn’t it! But I make no apology for asking it, because it’s the most important question we can ever ask ourselves, so there’s no excuse for beating about the bush.
The Bible tells us that not only were we made by God, but also for him. According to the creation story (Genesis 1-3) he made us in some unique sense like himself and intended us to enjoy an intimate and loving relationship with him. (I love that part of the story (Genesis 3:8) where God himself comes “walking in the garden” - the garden which he had given to Adam and Eve - “in the cool of the day”; what perfect peace and ease that conjures up!)
But that intimacy with God was broken by their disobedience, leading to a loss of peace and all sorts of misery and pain. In that same verse we read that Adam and Eve “hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden”; knowing that they had been disobedient, they were ashamed and frightened. (Not that “hiding” from God would do them any good, of course - how can you hide from the One who made all things and sees all things!)
Well, each one of us is Adam or Eve: we read in Romans 3:23 that all of us “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
And so the question arises: Can that fractured relationship be mended? Can we know peace with God again? And the answer? Yes! - a thousand times yes! Which is why the gospel is “good news”.
This greatest of all truths is opened up for us fully in the New Testament, focussing on Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross and his rising again on the third day. But it is beautifully expressed too in various parts of the Old Testament, supremely here in Isaiah 55:6-7.
So... if you know that you are not at peace with God, I encourage you to take very seriously what the prophet says. He outlines four steps which, if you take them, will bring you that peace.
Step one: “Seek the Lord while he may be found...”
Seek. To seek something or someone suggests a serious, determined searching. You will never find peace if you look for God only vaguely or half-heartedly. And the words “while he may be found” suggest an urgency in this - a time will come when there will be no more opportunity. The time is now! - so don’t put it off.
Step two: “call on him while he is near.”
Call. This amounts to pretty much the same thing, but it pinpoints especially the key element in seeking, for to “call” is, above all, to pray. From beginning to end the Bible tells us that God’s ears are always open to the prayers of those whose hearts are humble and genuine.
A time comes for all of us when we need to close the door, shut out the noises of the world, perhaps even fall on our knees, and cry out to God. Simple, plain words are all that are needed - as long as they come from our hearts, that’s all that matters.
Have you reached that point yet? Could today be the day?
Step three: “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts...”
Forsake. To forsake something is to abandon it, to shun it - putting it bluntly, to dump it. This is part of what the Bible means by the word “repentance” - we not only feel bad about the things that separate us from God and destroy our peace; we also turn our backs on them and make up our minds to have nothing more to do with them.
It doesn’t happen all at once - repenting is in fact something we have to do every day of our lives. But this is the turning-point, and nothing will ever be the same again.
Step four: “Let them turn to the Lord...”
Turn. If forsaking is a turning away, here now is the turning to. Turning away from something that is bad is good, but it isn’t enough - we need also to turn to God, which means surrendering ourselves to him wholeheartedly and trusting ourselves to him.
Four steps - seek; call; forsake; turn.
And what happens when we take them? This... God will “have mercy” on us; he will “freely pardon”. No conditions. No ifs or buts. No heavy duties slapped on us, for Jesus has done all that needs to be done.
And why wouldn’t you have peace if you’ve been forgiven by God? Indeed, how could you not have peace!
So if you’ve never done so before, I invite you to take those four steps right now...
Lord God, I confess that I am a sinner in your sight. I turn away from all that is bad, all that separates me from you and spoils my life, and I put my trust in Jesus, who died and rose for me. So help me from his moment forward to live every day in glad obedience to you, and so to know your beautiful peace. Amen.
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