God Has Been Forgotten and Idol Worship Abounds

We find ourselves living in a time when the true living God has been forgotten and many worship false idols. We can learn much about God from Israel in the Old Testament. Israel turned from God to the worship of false god’s on a steady basis. God called Isaiah to warn Israel of their sins. And in the prophet of Isaiah God confronts the sins of Israel. 

God Has Been Forgotten by Israel

Israel’s sins included idol worship. God has been forgotten and they decided to worship anything but God. Their idol worship progressed to include perverse sexual rituals and sacrificing their own children by fire to the god Molech. Once they turned from fearing and worshiping God, they mocked and made fun of the righteous.

Isaiah 57:11 KJV 11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

Who are you afraid of more than me that caused you to lie to Me and forget Me? As a matter of fact you haven’t even thought of Me. Is it because I have been quiet about your sins?  If you believe you’re getting away with sin because God seems silent, you are deceived.

While most of Israel was sinning against God, what was happening to the righteous ones of God?

Isaiah 57:1-2 KJV The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

While The Wicked Play The Righteous Suffer

What was happening to the righteous ones? They were dying. In God’s view, He was sparing them from the evil that was coming upon Israel. Instead of enduring the destruction and suffering headed Israels way, they entered into peace. 

Persecution of believers is increasing quickly. The persecution of believers runs from being made fun of for living a godly life. All the way to being killed for not renouncing faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. 

It is vitally important we know Who we believe in.

God Hears the Contrite and Humble in Spirit

Isaiah 57:15 KJV For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

God lives in eternity. God is the eternal always existent living God. Heaven is not big enough to contain Him (2 Chronicles 6:18). We are to life in a way that shows God deserves our deepest respect and honor. He alone is to be glorified in our life. 

Our life is to exemplify His name, Holy. God is holy therefore we are to be holy (1 Peter 1:16).  And yet, God lives in the heart of the humble and contrite person.

What Is a Humble Spirit and Contrite Heart?

These are the ones who know they are dust. Their sins fill their heart with sorrow. A humble spirit and contrite heart comes before God saying, God have mercy on a sinner like me (Luke 18:9-14). 

I encourage you to remember God saved you from His wrath and eternal hell. Remember also we have the peace of Christ. But there is no rest for the wicked (Isaiah 57:19-21). The wicked constantly stir up and agitate trouble and destruction. 

Did God Bring Judgment Onto Israel?

God saw all the sins of Israel and eventually judgment came. He still sees the sins of mankind today. God suffers sin because He wishes for none to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

However, there is a cup of iniquity (Genesis 15:16, Romans 2:5, Revelation 18:4-5) that will be filled. And just like Israel paid for her sins, so will all those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

God Remembers The Righteous

In the meantime, God has not forgotten His righteous ones. Christ prepares a place for His bride and eagerly awaits the time He will come and get us. Then we too will have peace and rest in the presence of our majestic Lord God. We will live, with no interference, to worship and know the One in whom we believe. 

Let us pray with Paul for the church

Ephesians 1:17-23 KJV  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.