Isaiah 59:1-2 – Separated From God
The problem here in the relationship between God and his people is not because God can’t save them. God’s arm is never too short. He is able to save to the uttermost. The problem here is not because God can’t hear. God always hears. He is willing to save anyone who comes to Him contrite for sin and wishing to be right. Well, if there is not a problem with God, what’s the problem? Why are we separated from Him? The problem is a quite simple one. It’s sin. That is what separates.
Are you feeling separated from God? Are you in Jesus Christ? Are you in a covenant relationship with Him, united to Him by faith? Or have you thought, I don’t want to mess with that. I don’t want to get too close now. After all, I’m pretty good. God should be happy to have someone like me. Besides, I can’t believe or I don’t want to believe all that stuff. It might change my life. If you are not in Christ, then you are still in sin, and that is what’s separating you from God. You may be very religious. But if there is no heart truly and sincerely given to God in Christ, you are going through motions, and that stinks to God. The second thing for you to consider, if you are not in Jesus Christ, is that you are not good in any way. There is no one who is without sin. What you do is nothing but sinful. Even if you do outwardly good things, if your heart is not yielded to Jesus, if you’re not in union with Him by faith, then it’s no good. Your sin demands the just penalty of death. Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. That’s the only way out – trusting in the Lord Jesus.
The problem is sin in the family, sin in the church, sin in the individual, sin in the culture, and all these things lead to God’s wrath and judgment. We need a solution. It’s simple. Repent. Look to Jesus and repent. Make sure you are in Christ, and if you are, seek to obey His Word. Of course, the true believer will want to do just that. God is yet able, and God is willing to forgive sin and sinners. If there is separation from God, then return to Him in and through Jesus Christ. That is the only solution to the problem. But it’s the sure one!
Question
- What separates us from God?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would put sin to death daily.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.