Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Come back to me! By returning and resting in me you will be saved. In quietness and trust you will be made strong. But you refused. Isaiah 30:15

The God of the Old Testament is harsh and judgmental. Many who take only a quick glance through scripture come to this conclusion. In reality, the Holy, perfect God of Heaven desperately desires relationship with sin stained humanity.

Yet like kids who have played in the mud God has a way of cleansing and redeeming us because we cannot carry sin into a perfect Heaven. God offers His own Son to the sacrifice for our sins. He offers us cleansing at no cost beyond control of our lives, the submitting of our will to His.

This is the invitation God makes through Isaiah. Return to God, rest in His control, and we will be saved. Saved from the pain of sin. In calming ourselves and seeking God’s wisdom and power to work on our behalf we are made strong.

The amazing thing is that people still respond to this offer throughout human history by being unwilling to give up control of their lives. They refuse God’s offer because the pain they experience is all the know. The cap on their capacity for real peace, true joy, and unconditional love has blinded them to the fact there can be more.

Today, come back to God. Give Him your life and offer Him control and be made strong.