God Is Here
1 I was sought by those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have stretched out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts;
Isaiah 65:1–2 [NKJV]
When we hear what God says through His prophet, we need to ask what He means…
For us… as it was also meant for us… for us to hear…
Why? Because
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
[ESV][2 Timothy 3:16–17]
So then how does this; and what does this—the text from the prophet—have to do with us and our lives?
He is reproving us here! He is correcting us!
Isaiah writes…God has these things written…so that they do something to us… that they affect us…
So that they do change us…and right now…as a matter of fact…
…to drive us to Him…and this again…today…if necessary…and then again and again…each Sunday… after each Sunday….
…as it is what we need…and this often…
But this is interesting… as here He is telling us what HE is going to do…what He is doing…to deal with what and how He wants things to be with us….
…and so really this is more about what we are–how we are with Him and with each other…rather than what we do…or are to do….
Because obviously that has not helped…that it has not been all that good…what we have tries, what we have done…
Our ways are not His ways, nor have our thoughts been His thoughts… Not so much… not yet… some perhaps… yes…
But to put it another way: this is all about what He is going to do to us… and how we will look when He does do it…
…and then how we will respond to all of what He affects within us.
It is for Him to judge, not us. Otherwise, we will never see it.
Yes, by Him showing up. By Him revealing Himself to us… and by us seeing Him….
We who have lived in so much darkness and doubt…
But by knowing Who He is… by hearing what He will do for us…
That we are now found and no longer are lost in the dark. That is how we begin…
Thank God, as we have not…and can’t seem to…
…nor did we really want to… when it comes down it…to find Him…
St. Paul is clear in Romans that no one seeks after God… Paul minces no words, oh you liar… you so-called seeker of God… for you do not seek the one true God… you seek a god you invent and want…
No one seeks after the one true God.
So… notice then, who the actor is… who it is that does something here…
Him—He does… God Almighty.
If He did not… if He does not…all would be lost!
And this–that which He wants to do…among us…in us…is in fact happening even now—yes, and this very Sunday…in your hearing.
By these very Words—His Word—Scripture.
He is telling you and I… that He is invading our very lives so that sinners, who would never ask for Him, who would never seek for Him…
Would have Him…. HIM… He who…
He who loves us…even after what we have done…and will do… or won’t do;
He who gives His life to save ours…even if we have not asked Him to;
He who pays for our way back to Him, even when we rather spend on anything but that;
He who brings life to us who are dying, even though we are the cause of our perishing;
He who makes us His very own people, who were not, nor ever would be otherwise;
He who gives us His own name…even though we are more comfortable being called anything else but….
Yes, it is Him…still…
…even if… even though…
Yes, it is Jesus.
AND …all of this happens to be so true ….
It is He who says to each of us right now: “Here I am, here I am!”
It is only me, He tells us gently…and it is me that you really want, who you really need…
That which is wholly “OTHER” …
That is your longing… that is what is missing…
That which you have often thought is just around that next corner, but never is there…
But He says, I have never NOT been there… never have I moved away, or left you alone…
As I know what you need before you do… before you even think to ask…
I am the very fulfillment of all your deepest needs…the one who makes you truly human again…
The one who brings the true Good back, better than they were…when they used to be called that…
When what we wish for is coming from hearing those echoes of Eden…
He is here to give it all to you for free…
He is the desire of the ages…in which all creation longs for…
I AM! He says again… to us….
I am what all of this was always all about– what everything is all about– what all of everything is all for…
It is all for Him… Christ the Lord…always…
But then that also always means for you… as it will be …
… it will with Him… together forever.
“As I am here… this day…for you…”, He says as He pours out all of His gifts from His endless supply…
Come. You and you… everyone… Come, partake.
Come, for all has been made ready….
And God keeps this up–this invading… showing up in our midst…
Yes, even to a “rebellious people”–as we are still tempted to be–who might still desire to “walk in a way that is not good”– … all too often…yes, “according to our own thoughts”…and not His…
But that is why He does this…that is why He is here….
Because He is the God who SAVES…
And so too, He is the One Who acts. He comes and shows Himself to us…
And because of this we do respond…
He causes it, yes…
And that is why we have Him…here…today…
All of Him. The Word made flesh to dwell among us still….to dwell in us– flesh and blood…by Water and Word… in bread and wine…
And that…
SURPRISE! This ends with having us… yes me… doing good actions…good works…even.
From out of us, you and I… a NEW royal priesthood, a Holy Nation…IS…
…that now do come in and go out from His House…now our House… His Father, now our Father…
Children once again…His people…who were lost, but now are:
Found By Him,
Brought back by Him,
To live with Him, now and forever.
Even this day. For today is the day of salvation… as He is here saving us again. Amen.
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