Isa 48:1

Isa 48:1  Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right. Isaiah 48 reads like a letter from a father to his son telling him of his disappointment with him. In this case, the father is Jehovah God and the son is Israel. In my own words, this chapter reads like this: “People of Israel, listen to me. You pride yourself to be called an Israelite. You claim to worship me, the LORD God of Israel; but you are not sincere. You call yourselves citizens of the holy city and claim to depend on the God of Israel, the LORD All-Powerful, the God of Israel. But you are stubborn and hard-headed. You have never been willing to listen to what I say. From the moment of your birth, you rebel. But I was patient with you. I will refine you and make you pure; but not in the way you make silver pure. I will make you pure by giving you troubles. I will lead you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” That disappointment towards Israel is repeated in Paul’s letter to the church in Rome: “Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God….And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness….Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?” (Romans 2:17, 19, 21-23). If we replace the words Israel, Israelite, and Jew in Isaiah 48 and Romans 2 with the word “Christian” or your name, or my name, does it sound like you and I? Do we call ourselves Christians but are rebellious to His command? Do we call ourselves Christians but are not living like one? The name “Christian” is not a title but a lifestyle. Today, the word “gay” is a lifestyle, albeit, an exceeding sinful lifestyle. The “gay” community called it an alternative lifestyle. It means it is something that is different from something else, especially from what is usual, or the norm. Hence, the “alternative” lifestyle is an abnormal lifestyle. The Bible says such lifestyle is vile, unnatural, shameful, and depraved (Romans 1:26-28). The name “Christian” suggests a lifestyle that is like Christ. Peter, writing to Christians says: “That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God” (1Peter 4:2). He praised the Christians for making a change in their lives. He said before their conversion they were walking in sin. But, after they became Christians, they gave up their former lifestyle. Their former friends whom they used to party with were surprised at their change: “With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you” (1Peter 4:4, ESV). They thought those Christians were crazy to give up the fun they used to enjoy. The world thinks the same today of us too. They think we must be crazy not to drink and party around. But, though the world may speak evil of our godly living, their condemnations are praises to God. Because it shows we have been truly converted: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). Our friends may say we are crazy. The Scripture says we are showing forth the praises of God who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Let us not disappoint God like Israel. Let us walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).