The Book of Isaiah starts off with very harsh words for the both of the Jewish kingdoms of the time. As I was reading this passage this morning a sudden sadness came upon me. As I read of God’s displeasure and His refusal to accept the very offerings and religious traditions that He had commanded of His people I began to wonder if that is not how He sees and feels about much of the church of today. At worst some have a “Christmas and Easter” faith, and at best others have a “Sunday Only Faith.” What do I mean by that? We get dressed up, attend service, sing our songs and genuinely worship and praise the Lord, we receive the Word of the Lord with an open mind and heart during said service. However, with our worship music playing in the background in our vehicle as we are exiting the parking lot we are cursing another driver because they are showing kindness and patience to someone else and we are in a hurry to beat the people from the church across town to our favorite restaurant for lunch. We proceed to live out the rest of the week in a way that reflects the views and morals of the world that we live in rather than those of the God that supposedly lives within us. I believe that if we consider Isaiah’s warning to His people, God would say the same things to us, If we are “going through the motions” of practicing our religious traditions, while still doing evil in His sight, then our worship goes unreceived and our prayers go unheard. When we do not walk with Him, we forfeit the benefits and blessings of doing so.
That being said, He is returning for a PURE and SPOTLESS Bride. If we are out whoring ourselves with the world throughout the week, it does not matter how fancy the clothes we put on to cover our flesh, those covering our spirit are filthy tattered and torn. Yet, sadly, like Laodocia we do not recognize how pitiful and wretched we really are, NOW is the day and hour that we MUST repent. We must genuinely with all that is within us call out to Him and acknowledge our sin, our idolatry, adultery and rebellion. Let us rend our garments and humble ourselves before a jealous God who will not be patient forever. For if we continue to bear no fruit then we are at risk of being cut off and thrown into the fire. I beg of you, do not be found to be as the virgins that had no oil when the Bridegroom returns.
Let us here and truly follow Christ as He said when He was among us, “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
The good news is that if we will confess and repent then He will cleanse us and forgive ALL our sin and unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
So, my friends, we can not fix the WHOLE church, or the entire church in our country, but we can fix what is in our control and that is ourselves.Thus, I urge you my dear brothers and sisters to set aside some time, search your heart and mind, and consider your attitudes and behavior and if ANYTHING is not in line with His Truth and Love, then quickly seek forgiveness and repent and turn back to the Lord in those areas, I can absolutely guarantee that the benefits of doing so will greatly outweigh what you believe you are getting continuing on the path you are on.
REVIVAL CAN NOT COME WITHOUT REPENTENCE!