Willing and Obedient

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 1:16-20 NKJV).

Chapter One of Isaiah is a wrathful declaration that God would avenge Himself of the people’s wickedness. God calls the rulers of Judah and Jerusalem, “rulers of Sodom” and the people He calls, “people of Gomorrah” (v.10). Isaiah’s vision sees God ready to strike these wicked people to consume the wicked (vs.21-31).

However, in the midst of this first chapter we find the verses above, verses that promise redemption. These verses were not included to comfort the wicked in their sin, but to comfort the remnant that was surrounded by the wicked. Surely hearing such a stern rebuke from God would have made even the elect fearful that God would not spare them. Remember, they looked forward to the Messiah, and lived under the law, a constant reminder of their need for a Redeemer. So God reminds them that they will be made whole, they will be made clean, and they will be pure separated from their sin someday if they did not rebel but be willing and obedient to have God rule over their lives.

We have a tremendous advantage living on this side of the cross. We who are saved today experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as a down payment of our inheritance.

“In Him you also [trusted], after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph 1:13-14 NKJV)

This enhanced relationship increases our responsibility to be willing and obey. If the remnant in Israel was expected to obey, how much more should we be expected to obey? The book of Hebrews makes this point very clearly.

“Let us hold fast the confession of [our] hope without wavering, for He who promised [is] faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as [is] the manner of some, but exhorting [one another], and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb 10:23-31 NKJV)

Friends the calling on your life is higher than on those of Isaiah’s day because we have a greater light and a more sure word of prophecy, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Do not think for one moment that sin can be left unchecked or un-confessed or un-repented. You like the remnant of Isaiah’s day must be willing and obedient to the commands of God. The N.T. puts this way. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world——our faith.” (1Jo 5:3-4 NKJV)

Walk in faith today. Don’t give in to the world and the flesh. You believe by faith that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him don’t you (Heb 11.6)? By faith you must believe unto obedience. You will never get saved by trying to earn salvation with good works. However, a faith that saves produces good works for it is willing to obey God’s commands.