2024-08-30 “All we like sheep have gone astray”

Isaiah 53:6  “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Knowing how miserably our Lord Sacrificed Himself (Isaiah 53:1-5) to pay our sin-debt, you would think that the Children of God would joyfully and sincerely avoid being “conformed to this world” but would be energetically “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2).  But, like mindless “sheep”, “All … have gone astray”; that is, have left the Word of God, or have so severely altered and misinterpreted it that it cannot even be recognized as the Word of God.  They have either left the Lord’s Church entirely or have so severely altered it, that it cannot be recognized as the Church taught in the Bible.  They “have turned every one to his own way”; that is, they “have” made up their own rules for morality and integrity and faithfulness to the Lord.  And, “have” simply ignored many of the Lord’s Commandments so that they can satisfy their own carnal lusts.  Like Israel of old, they ignored the warning that “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  20  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 1:19-20).  They mindlessly “put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near” (Amos 6:3); they behave as if they do not know or care that they are so openly disobeying Him.  But, when “the sword, … the famine, … the pestilence … is come to pass” and life becomes exceedingly miserable, then again, like Old Testament Isreal, we will all repent and fall down and cry out to our Lord for Mercy and Deliverance.  Then we will know that the Lord meant what He said, when He told us, “In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” (Isaiah 54:8).  He will ultimately “have mercy on” us; for we are His “sheep” (albeit, prone to stray) “and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”!  Let us take heed to our Lord’s message to Solomon: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)!