In Isaiah’s time, Israel and Judah’s sins had roused the anger of God. Even so, they both continued in their sins, ignoring the prophetic warnings of the prophets God sent. Isaiah described the nations as unclean, filthy, and disgusting. Their sins polluted them as much as the most vile, rank, germ-infested garment you could imagine. No one called on the name of God. They had turned to idols and followed the pagan worship rituals of the nations around them. No one strove to take hold of God. As a result God hid is face from them and they would be defeated, crumpled under the rule of the Assyrians.
Doesn’t this sound like the world we live in today? What would it take for God to get our attention? What would it take for Christians to refocus their time, efforts, attention, money, and hearts on God? What would it take for us to strive to take hold of God and return Him to the place of honor He deserves in our hearts, in our country, in our world? Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
The Christmas season is busy with decorating, baking, parties, shopping, wrapping, and all the things we enjoy about the holiday. But what if this Christmas we stopped and strove after God with all our heart? How would our lives be different? How would our families be different? How would our nation be different?
As we focus on preparation this week of Advent, may we cry out to God and repent of our sins – individually and for the sins of our nation. May we strive to search for God will all our heart…for then we will find Him.
