Isaiah 45:15-25
Monday, 1 February 2021
"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” -Isaiah 45:22
This portion beautifully brings out the universality of the eternal Salvation plan of God. This is a great and marvellous revelation, because till then it was thought to be that the Jews were the only privileged people of God entitled for every blessing. The hopelessness of the Gentile world is turned into hope in the Lord by this declaration. God is calling the ends of the earth to turn to Him and be saved! He is laying bare His arm of salvation which is extended even to the lowliest person living on planet earth. He came to save and give eternal life to all.
The phrase “Turn to Me” is to direct our attention to one to whom we can look to for help in our helplessness. In the helpless state we are in, our lives marred by sin- no one can save except the One in whom is found no sin (1Peter2:22) and the One who can blot out our sins and iniquity (Psalm 51:9). 2Cor.5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus is the ONLY ONE who can forgive, cleanse (by His blood) even our conscience (Heb.9:14) so that we can be made right with God.
This was a mystery till the time of the Apostles. As we read in Colossians 1:26-27: "the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Even though it was declared through the Prophets, still it was not understood and applied until the coming of the Lord Jesus. After the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord on the cross of Calvary for the sins of men, it became clear that this salvation includes both Jews and Gentiles. Ephesians 2:13-19: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ….And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
This truth was of great dispute in the first century but was established through the powerful writings by Apostle Paul in his letters. In today's world also we see many carrying this kind of cultural and social differences into the churches. This is totally against the plan of God. These type of unseen barriers have to be broken. In different parts of the world, we still see how caste, colour, status, etc bring in differences even now. God has called everyone to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. All who look to Him for salvation will be saved.
So as meditate on this wonderful declaration by God, let us take up our stand with God to abolish all kinds of barriers and walls of hostility in the churches and be built up as one body in the Lord.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven please help us to understand and stand up against all the unseen walls of hostility and be united in You. In Jesus name, Amen.