Isaiah 64-66
Attitude is Everything
As we come to the end of the book, Isaiah prays for the good old days when God was moving among the people and miracles were happening. God’s reply is found in Chapter 65 where He says He did rend the heavens and come down and was found by a people who were not really looking for Him but knew there was more to this life than this world had to offer. There must be a divine creator. God said to those who were searching for what they did not know, “Here I am, here I am.” Verse 1 NASB
When Jesus finished His sermon on the mount he was approached by a Roman centurion who had a servant who was paralyzed and suffering in great pain and asked Jesus to heal him. His other option would be to get a new servant, cast this one aside, or send him to a home for suffering servants, if one existed. But the centurion, by caring about his servant, was doing the type of fasting that was described in Isaiah 58. Jesus said He would come and heal the servant but the centurion said Jesus didn’t need to stop what He was doing and come. He knew all Jesus had to do was say the word and the servant would be healed. Jesus commended the centurion for his faith. Jesus said He had not found this much faith in all of Israel. Then Jesus said, “And I say to you, that many shall come from the east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven, But the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:11&12 NASB
Jesus permitted Himself to be sought by the centurion because he came by faith not expectation and entitlement. The centurion had great faith because he had put his faith in Jesus. What would Jesus say about our faith? The Apostle Paul, writes in Romans 12:3 “For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” NASB
It is not a matter of having enough faith, it is in what we have put our faith! God makes it clear in Isaiah 65 and 66 that where we have put our faith will be where we end up when He does, indeed, rend the heavens and come down and sets up His Kingdom on earth for 1000 years. It will be a glorious day when God sets the world right and as it should be. You don’t want to miss it!
There is a final warning in Chapter 66:3-6 that we need to take seriously. Casual, halfhearted worship done in pride appears to be an abomination to the Lord. God is looking for a humble and contrite spirit of worship. We need to take heed of God’s words.
Apparently attitude is everything! Seek with a humble and contrite spirit. You’ll be glad you did!
Pastor Dave