{"id":1458,"date":"2021-10-24T12:50:11","date_gmt":"2021-10-24T17:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/?p=1458"},"modified":"2021-10-24T12:50:11","modified_gmt":"2021-10-24T17:50:11","slug":"seek-the-lord-while-he-may-be-found","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/biblicalpath.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/24\/seek-the-lord-while-he-may-be-found\/","title":{"rendered":"Seek the Lord While He May be Found"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
\u201c6. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon<\/strong>.\u201d
Isaiah 55:6-7 <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In the Old Testament, God\u2019s people were primarily Israelites\n(Jews). There were rare exceptions when a Gentile left their people (and their\nfalse gods) to become one of God\u2019s people who believed in the one true God\n(Ruth is an excellent example of this!). However, it was foretold that there\nwould one day be a time when the invitation to join God\u2019s family would become\nan open invitation to the Gentile people \u2013 until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled.\nWe live in those days. Moreover, it appears that those days may be coming to a\nclose very soon. See the following verses: \u201c25. For I would not, brethren,\nthat ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own\nconceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of\nthe Gentiles be come in. 26. And so all <\/strong>Israel<\/strong>\nshall be saved \u2026<\/strong>\u201d (Romans 11:25-26a).\nWhen God\u2019s people rejected Jesus as their Messiah, declared vividly when Jesus\nwas crucified, God began to close the door of salvation for the Jewish people \u201cblindness\nin part is happened to Israel<\/strong>,\u201d opening the door of salvation wide open for\nthe Gentiles. The tables were turned: mainly Gentiles would be saved and few\nJews during this time in history. However, soon the door will close for the\nGentile nations, and God will open the door of salvation wide for the Jewish\npeople. This is already beginning to happen.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A primary\nplace this is told of is in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah chapters 54-55, we\nsee a picture of the restoration of Israel\nthat would happen one day, and a calling of the Gentile people. \u201cBehold,\nthou shalt call a nation that<\/em> thou knowest not, and nations that<\/em>\nknew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy\nOne of Israel; for he hath glorified thee<\/strong>\u201d (Isaiah 55:5). The following\nverses are a great invitation. \u201c6. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,\ncall ye upon him while he is near: 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the\nunrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will\nhave mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon<\/strong>\u201d (Isaiah\n55:6-7). Notice the urgency in calling upon the Lord while He may be found. One\ncannot delay! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we need to turn to the Lord for forgiveness? \u201c8.\nFor my thoughts are<\/em> not your thoughts, neither are<\/em> your ways my\nways, saith the LORD. 9. For as<\/em> the heavens are higher than the earth,\nso are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10.\nFor as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not\nthither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may\ngive seed to the sower, and bread to the eater<\/strong>\u201d (Isaiah 55:8-10). What does\nthis mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a person understands they are a sinner and that they need a Savior, they hear from someone about the Word of God (telling of Jesus\u2019 atoning death), and that Word goes into the heart of a person much as a seed enters the soil. The watering of God\u2019s Word causes the seed to bud. A person is then saved. It does not make sense to the average person (God\u2019s ways are higher), but when they only believe, God can do His work! See what we understand just happened in that heart. \u201cSo shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing<\/em> whereto I sent it<\/strong>\u201d (Isaiah 55:11). When God\u2019s Word is accomplished in the heart, that person is no longer a condemned sinner, but a new creature in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). How does one feel after they have asked Jesus into their heart? \u201cFor ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their<\/em> hands<\/strong>\u201d (Isaiah 55:12).\u00a0 The whole earth will rejoice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you allowed God\u2019s Word into your heart, believing in Jesus?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
How to be Saved<\/a><\/blockquote>