God's Invitation to Settle Your Account
Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
This verse should bring hope to the heart of any person needing God's forgiveness and healing. Often times, Satan places within the hearts and minds of people that they are too bad for God to forgive them, but such is never the case with the LORD. Here He extends an invitation for the nation to "come" and the time is "now." The time to accept God's invitation isn't later but now. The time to deal with our sin is sooner rather than later. Barnes states concerning this invitation, "This is addressed to the nation of Israel, and the same exhortation is made to all sinners." Nations can come, but so can individuals. I pray that our country will heed the invitation to come, but if a nation refuses, all who are sinners may come.
God wants to reason with us concerning His justice. The terminology is a terminology likened to that which concerns a court of law. Where both parties present their case. Again, Barnes states, "He [God] here continues the language, and addresses them as accustomed to the proceedings of courts, and proposes to submit the case as if on trial.
The depth of sin is evident by the use of the words "scarlet" and "red like crimson." Concerning the word "scarlet" it has been referred to as a process of double dying. The cotton cloth was dipped in this color twice; and the word used to express it means also double-dyed, from the verb שׁנה shânâh, to repeat. From this double-dying, many critics have supposed that the name given to the color was derived. It was a color of permanence. Yet the LORD offered to make it white as snow. The deep stain of sin is washed white by the blood of the Lamb. The color white is symbolic of innocence, purity, and righteousness. Revelation 19:8, "And to her [the bride of Christ] was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Ephesians 5:27, "That he [Christ] might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
Do you need forgiveness? Why not heed the invitation to "come now!" God is ready and willing to forgive you of your sins if you are willing to confess your sins with a heart of repentance depending upon nothing other than Jesus' blood and righteousness. If I can be of help, please let me know.
Have a great day walking in God's forgiveness.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. Are you living your life knowing your sins are forgiven? If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity?
2. Is it possible for someone to be too mean to be forgiven? Has God ever seen a sinner that He would not save? Why did He save you?
3. What does the use of the words scarlet and red like crimson portray? How thorough is God’s cleansing in your life according to Ephesians 5:27?