“Don’t Wait too Late!”
Isaiah 55: 6
Pastor Steve N. Wagers
October 24. 2010
1. Meeting God!
A)Longing for Him
B) Looking for Him
2. Missing God!
A) The Possibility to Fear
B) The Opportunity to Find
3. Minding God!
A) How We Must Respond to God
B) What We Will Receive from God
In 1966, David Mahoney was the head of Canada Dry. Stock was selling at a low price of $11 a share. With about two and a half million shares outstanding, he had an opportunity to buy the entire company for $30 million. Financing was available, but Mahoney never made up his mind and let the opportunity pass. Twenty years later, his investment would have increased to more than $700 million, a 200 percent profit.
I think about an old story of a farmer who said lightning struck an old shed and thus saved him the trouble of tearing it down. A few days later rain washed off his car and saved him that chore too. When asked what he was doing now, he replied, “Waiting for an earthquake to shake the potatoes out of the ground.”
I think of a section from Shakespeare’s classic work “Julius Caesar.”
There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.
William Mason states, “Each day we wait to obey God leaves one more day to repent of and one less day to repent in.”
I believe if Isaiah had given a title to this chapter division he would have entitled it, don’t’ wait too late. It is a word for every scene, stage and season of life. If you are a person who doesn’t know God; a person who is away from God; or, a person who has a desire to do great things for God, Isaiah says, ‘don’t wait too late.’
1. MEETING God!
(6)“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”
What a comfort to know that we can know God. It is a comfort to know that we can find God. It is a comfort to know that we can call upon God, and He will hear and answer us. It is a comfort to know that we can meet God, and God will meet us.
This word about meeting God reminds us that we can “seek” God and “find” God. In other words, we have a God who can be met. When the Bible speaks of “finding” God, it does not do so in the sense of finding something that is lost.
God is not lost. Thus, when the writer speaks of “seeking” Him and “finding” Him, it implies that we are lost, and in order to “find” Him we must “seek” Him.
Meeting God requires that we are:
A) LONGING for Him
(1)“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Having used the language of the courtroom, the Temple, and the funeral parlor, to get his message across, Isaiah now turns to the language of the marketplace to offer an appeal to his people.
The marketplace was where the day to day trading took place. The cobblestone streets were lined with street vendors, booths and peddlers all presenting their products for sale. The streets of Jerusalem resembled a modern day flea market, with activity taking place every single day.
With that in mind, the scene is set before us. It is as if Jehovah God has opened a store in the marketplace; and, there, like a street vendor, He calls for everyone, who is passing by, to come for “water, wine and milk.” The invitation is to “come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
In other words, the invitation was for everyone. Everyone who was thirsty could come and walk away with all of the “water, wine and milk” they wanted for free. It wouldn’t cost them a dime. The seller wanted no money, because the things of God cannot be bought with money. It was the best deal of the day, and God is the One who offered the deal.
The 3 products that God invites us to take are very interesting pictures in, and of themselves. Water speaks of the Word of God. Its consumption is a picture of salvation. Its cleansing is a picture of regeneration.
(Ephesians 5: 26)
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”
While water speaks of the Word of God, wine speaks of the Spirit of God. In the Old Testament, wine was often used as a ceremonial matter. The cup was a part of worship, especially at the Passover meal.
Wine was also used in a medicinal matter. It served as an anesthetic to ease pain, and as an antiseptic poured into the wound. However, wine is most commonly known as a picture of the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
(Ephesians 5: 18)
“Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
In other words, wine depicts joy, celebration and victory. Therefore, once we receive the “water” of the Word of God, and are saved; we receive the “wine” of the Spirit of God, and an abundant life is made possible.
Water speaks of the Word of God; wine speaks of the Spirit of God; but, milk speaks of the Life of God.
(1 Peter 2: 2)
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
The idea is of spiritual growth and progress. In other words, once we are saved, we become recipients of the life of God, which enables us, equips us and empowers us “to grow up unto Him in all things.”
Therefore, we are to making progress in the things of God. We begin as “babes in Christ,” but we are to go onto maturity. We take the water of the Word of God, filled with the wine of the Spirit of God, and we are equipped by the milk of the life of God to be all that God wants us to be.
But, again, the invitation is to everyone who will take God upon His offer. It is not reserved only for those in full-time Christian service; but, it is available for every child of God. If one desires to meet God, then Isaiah says that they have a longing heart willing to accept God’s invitation to partake of the things that money cannot buy.
B) LOOKING for Him
The word “seek,” in verse 6, indicates “an earnest desire to find something.” It is a deliberate, diligent and determined pursuit of something. In other words, Isaiah is saying that if we are to find the things of God, then there must be a deliberate intention, on our part, to find those things.
In his book, “Famous Parents of the Bible,” Brian Harbour tells the story of a WWII aviator who was downed in the North Sea during bitter winter weather. Day after day he clung to his safety raft in spite of the winds, the sleet and the mountain-like waves of the sea.
However, at last, he was finally rescued. One of the rescuers asked him how he was able to withstand under such adverse conditions. He replied, “I could never have done it except for the fact that I knew I was being earnestly, and eagerly, sought.”
Again, God is not lost. He is the “same, yesterday, today, and forever.” He has not moved, He will not move, because He cannot move. He is where He has always been.
We are the ones who are lost. Thus, if we are to “find” Him, we must “seek” Him. If we are to move forward in the things of God, then we must earnestly, eagerly and energetically pursue those things.
The woman found the “lost silver” because she went looking for it. The shepherd found the “lost sheep” because he went looking for it. The father saw the “lost son” because he was looking for him.
They left it up to no one else to do for them. They went out as if finding it all depended on them.
Oh, I would to God that we go after God, and look for God like we look for so many other things. The truth of the matter is that we can find whatever we set out to look for.
For example, when we come to church, if you want to find something to criticize, you can find it. If you want to find something to complain about, you can find it. If you want to find something to condemn, or get mad about, you can find it.
But, if you come looking to meet God, you can find that too! The bottom line is, are you longing for Him? Are you looking for Him? If so, you will meet Him.
2. MISSING God!
A couple had 2 sons, ages 8 and 10, who were always getting into trouble If anything went on at school, or in the neighborhood, the parents knew that their son were somehow involved. The parents were at their wits end about what to do, so they sought the help of a minister who had experienced remarkable success in helping unruly children. The minister agreed to see the boys, but only if he could see them individually.
The 8-year old boy went first. The minister sat the boy down in front of his desk and then sternly asked, “Where is God?” The boy made no response, so the minister asked again, “Where is God?” Again, the boy made no attempt to answer, so the minister raised his voice, hit his fist on the desk and asked, “Where is God?”
The little boy, scared to death, got up, bolted out of the office, and ran straight home into his older brother’s bedroom. His older brother asked, “What happened?” The younger brother said, “God is missing, and they think we did it!”
Again, allow me to put your mind at ease and say that God is not lost, and He is not missing. He is where He always has been, and where He always will be. He is still on the throne; He is still in control; and, He is still calling the shots.
However, while God is not missing, Isaiah says that it is possible for us to miss God. If we are to meet Him, then we must not miss Him. In order not to miss Him, there is:
A) The POSSIBILITY to FEAR
(6) “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”
The text suggests that there is a possibility that we may not always be able to find the Lord. There is a possibility that we may not always call upon Him and receive an answer from Him.
What Isaiah is speaking of is the nearness of His presence. He is saying that while the presence of God is near and dear to us, that is the time that we must seek Him and call out to Him, because such may not always be the case.
I have been in worship services where the glory cloud descended, and the presence of God was thick enough to cut with a knife. God was doing a deep work in the hearts of people. I have watched as those who were longing for God and looking for God found God. They responded to His call. They left a different person.
However, I have also watched others, during the same service, not flinch a muscle or blink an eye. The same God and the same glory made the same grace available; and, while it was received by some, it was rejected by others.
The words of the text remind us that it is when God is near that is the time to respond to Him; else the possibility to fear is that you will miss Him.
B) The OPPORTUNITY to FIND
In the days before modern harbors, a ship had to wait for the flood tide before it could make it to port. The term for this situation in Latin was ‘ob portu,’ that is, a ship standing over off a port, waiting for the moment when it could ride the turn of the tide to harbor.
The English word “opportunity” is derived from this original meaning. The captain and the crew were ready and waiting for that one moment for they knew that if they missed it, they would have to wait for another tide to come in.
Napoleon, one of the greatest military leaders of history, once said “that he was able to win every battle because he understood the value of 5 minutes.”
While we do receive opportunities everyday, they are opportunities that we may never have again. A left opportunity is a lost opportunity.
The prophet Isaiah seems to suggest that there is a specific opportunity involved in “seeking” and “calling upon” God. He says,
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”
We get the idea that there is a special, specific, and sacred season when God will be found and that He will be near. When that season occurs, we must take full advantage of the opportunity.
The Companion Bible renders the verse,
“Seek the Lord while He lets Himself be found; call upon Him while He allows Himself to be near.”
If you are unsaved today, you must realize that will not always have an opportunity to be saved. You will not always be in a service where God speaks to you, and you can receive Him into your heart.
That is why the God who is from “everlasting to everlasting;” the God that stretches before eternity past, and beyond eternity future, beckons in eternity present. He is the “I AM” of the RIGHT NOW!
As far as God is concerned, “TODAY is the day of salvation. NOW is the accepted time.” “TODAY, if you will hear His voice.”
The God of yesterday and someday is all about TODAY.
If you are a Christian, and God is dealing with you about a particular matter, Isaiah is admonishing you to “seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near,” because God may not always deal with you as He is dealing with you right now.
Don’t miss this divine moment. Don’t forsake this divine chance. Don’t miss out on this divine opportunity, because God may never present it to you again.
3. MINDING God!
Archibald Rutledge once wrote that, one day, he man a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked outdoors, he often took his dog with him. That morning, he left his dog in a clearing, and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went to the forest to work.
His faithful friend understood, because that is exactly what he did. Then, a fire started in the woods, and soon the blaze spread to the very spot where the dog had been left; but, he didn’t move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect obedience to his master. With tear-filled eyes the dog’s owner said, “I always had to be careful what I told him to do, because I knew that he would do it.”
Someone has said that “the cost of obedience is nothing compared to the cost of disobedience.”
Eugene Peterson spoke volumes when he said, “Many Christians lack a long obedience to Christ in the same direction.”
We have received a word about meeting God. We have received a warning about missing God. Now, we receive the wonder of minding God.
A) How we must RESPOND to God
(7)“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD.”
In other words, God is saying, “If you want seek me and find me; and, if you want to call upon me while I am near, then you must respond by returning to God.”
We must meet God on His own playing field, terms and rules. I need not remind you that God plays by only one set of rules, and they are His own rules.
You may here and you know that you are not saved, and God is dealing with you about your lost condition. The only way you have any hope of Heaven is to respond by “forsaking your way” and returning to God.
If you are a Christian, and you are not as close to God as you should be, could be, want to be, or used to be, the only way back is to “forsake your way” and “return unto the Lord.” If we want to find God’s way, then we must forsake our way.
B) What we will RECEIVE from God
What happens when we do things God’s way? What takes place when we meet God on His own terms and respond to Him?
(7) “…He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Matthew Henry translates the phrase “abundantly pardon” to mean that God will “multiply to His pardon.” In other words, just as we have multiplied our offenses against God, if we will turn back to God, He will multiply His pardon toward us.
(3) “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live.”
(12) “For 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 hands.”
To the unsaved, if you respond immediately to God, you will receive abundantly from God. For your shame, He will give you a new name. For your rags of rebellion, He will give you a robe of righteousness. For your sin, He will give you salvation. For your failures, He will give you forgiveness.