Ep. 160. Isaiah 29-30 | Down To Egypt

EPISODE 160

DOWN TO EGYPT: ISAIAH 29-30

Isaiah and all the rest of the prophets speak their messages to people who will never be interested in them. They "draw near [God] with their mouths and honor [him] with their lips, while their hearts are from [him]." Lipservice is all they can offer to God. We will see in Jeremiah that the people conduct themselves in all sorts of sinful ways and then come to the temple of the Lord and declare, "We are delivered." They were not even ashamed of their sins at all.

Lipservice is easy. Saying we are followers of God is easy, as easy as pushing the breath past our vocal cords. We smile as we walk into the church. We trade pleasantries. We might even give the half-head tilt and all-knowing nod to signify how solemnly we feel the message being preached. But the heart within the chest is cold and distant, bent on its own pleasures and desires. Stoking the fire of God within the chest takes work. Dying is involved. Death of self. Death of the old. Death of price. Death of sinful appetites. Death of all things not birthed in the cross of Christ. The impenitent heart is not interested in having its desires replaced with the thoughts of heaven. The heart steeped in lies plans to depart from the will of God even while the words "I love the Lord" escape our lips. Look at how the sufferer suffers, and you will see where their hope is, in God or themselves. Look at how the blessed rejoices, and you will see where their peace comes from: the throne of heaven or the fullness of the cupboard. People have, since the beginning, drawn near God with their lips. Pagans can do that. Charlatans and pretenders can do that. Mystics and philosophers can do that. But those precious few who draw near to Christ with the heart find themselves crucified with him, buried with him, and raised to walk in NEW LIFE through him. From the Old Testament prophet Isaiah to the Jews who crucified Jesus to the church of the modern day, the temples, the synagogues, and the buildings have been and are filled with people paying lip service. Look closely, and you will see them. And it breaks my heart.

ADDITIONAL READING: Matthew 15:8-9; Proverbs 7:8-9; Isaiah 45:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Matthew 11:28-30; Romans 6:1-8