“Then it was revealed in my hearing by the Lord of hosts, ‘surely for this iniquity there will be no atonement for you, even to your death,’ says the Lord God of hosts.” Isaiah 22:14
Why would God say such a grave thing? The verses preceding this statement provide the answer.
“You also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago. And in that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and for mourning, for baldness and for girding with sackcloth. But instead, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’” Isaiah 22:11-13
While the Bible makes it clear, “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.” Psalm 145:8 the sinner must take the steps toward God in repentance as God requires or God will say of him/her as he said of Ephraim for stubbornness “‘Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone.’” Hosea 4:17 But, when the people of Nineveh repented the Bible states “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened.” Jonah 3:10
The only reason why we would be left without God’s forgiveness is if we refuse to see our need of it and choose to go on living as we did before. Repentance means more than saying sorry, repentance is allowing God to change your life as David asked “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
God says “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword’; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 1:18-20
It is not that God wants your destruction, but that destruction is the natural result of refusing to come to God because nothing is really good apart from Him. “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Don’t sin by being unrepentant, don’t wait any longer, come to God and allow Him to bless you with life. Just come to Him.
