October 8th, 2025
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
Reaching Out to the Unreachable
The world to which Isaiah was called by God for ministry was not all that different from the one in which we live today.
The southern Israelite nation of Judah had been founded on God's Law and principles, but the kings of the land had turned from God's commands. Things were spiritually going from bad to worse. In the 6th chapter of Isaiah we get the account of God's powerful calling of his prophet to go and proclaim his message to the people. At the time, King Uzziah had died and the people were in a dangerous transition of leadership.
When Isaiah accepted the call of God he received some very disturbing news about his ministry. He would preach his heart out! He would stand steadfastly for God's Word and he would call rebellious people to turn back to God. However, verses 9 and following say that the people would hear but not understand. They would see, but NEVER perceive. Their hearts would be calloused and their ears would be dull and their eyes would be closed.
Do you remember the old THREE STOOGES skits on TV where there might be an explosion or some kind of catastrophic occurrence and one of the Stooges, usually Curly or Larry, would cry out, "I CAN'T SEE! I CAN'T SEE! Moe would turn to say, "You can't see? What's the matter?" The Stooge would then reply, in a mouthy whine, "I HAD MY EYES CLOSED!"
It wasn't that the Israelites couldn't see. They simply refused to see what God was trying to show them. They refused look at God and his way.
Today, it seems as if we live in a time where Paul's final verse in Romans 1 is being embraced, "Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1:32
Isaiah was an amazingly articulate preacher and writer. His messages were vivid and powerful. The images God gave him were clear and true. In all of his ministry, through the reign of 4 kings, not one convert would be found. So, was he a failure in ministry? Hardly, God used him then and he uses the Prophet powerfully now to let people see their shortcomings (i.e. their sins) and to see where God wants them to go and what he wants them to do.
When you share God's Word or the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone who rejects you, don't give up. Isaiah didn't! He was not a failure because he never quit until he died.
This Sunday at First Christian Church we will continue our preparation for Friend Day with the message, Friends Who Help Us. We will look at a variety of passages of Scripture. I hope you will come and dip your spiritual ladle in what God has in store for you.
Still Reaching,
Jon
Reaching Out to the Unreachable
The world to which Isaiah was called by God for ministry was not all that different from the one in which we live today.
The southern Israelite nation of Judah had been founded on God's Law and principles, but the kings of the land had turned from God's commands. Things were spiritually going from bad to worse. In the 6th chapter of Isaiah we get the account of God's powerful calling of his prophet to go and proclaim his message to the people. At the time, King Uzziah had died and the people were in a dangerous transition of leadership.
When Isaiah accepted the call of God he received some very disturbing news about his ministry. He would preach his heart out! He would stand steadfastly for God's Word and he would call rebellious people to turn back to God. However, verses 9 and following say that the people would hear but not understand. They would see, but NEVER perceive. Their hearts would be calloused and their ears would be dull and their eyes would be closed.
Do you remember the old THREE STOOGES skits on TV where there might be an explosion or some kind of catastrophic occurrence and one of the Stooges, usually Curly or Larry, would cry out, "I CAN'T SEE! I CAN'T SEE! Moe would turn to say, "You can't see? What's the matter?" The Stooge would then reply, in a mouthy whine, "I HAD MY EYES CLOSED!"
It wasn't that the Israelites couldn't see. They simply refused to see what God was trying to show them. They refused look at God and his way.
Today, it seems as if we live in a time where Paul's final verse in Romans 1 is being embraced, "Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1:32
Isaiah was an amazingly articulate preacher and writer. His messages were vivid and powerful. The images God gave him were clear and true. In all of his ministry, through the reign of 4 kings, not one convert would be found. So, was he a failure in ministry? Hardly, God used him then and he uses the Prophet powerfully now to let people see their shortcomings (i.e. their sins) and to see where God wants them to go and what he wants them to do.
When you share God's Word or the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone who rejects you, don't give up. Isaiah didn't! He was not a failure because he never quit until he died.
This Sunday at First Christian Church we will continue our preparation for Friend Day with the message, Friends Who Help Us. We will look at a variety of passages of Scripture. I hope you will come and dip your spiritual ladle in what God has in store for you.
Still Reaching,
Jon
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