Settled

 "Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are scarlet, they will be white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool." Isaiah 1:18....."Nothing is ever settled until it's settled right, and nothing is ever settled right until it is settled with God." Vance Havner

One of the most difficult aspects of being a pastor is seeing the number of people who never seem to break through to victory on so many of their life issues. They attend classes, support groups, listen to sermons, and sing worship choruses. They get counseling, they talk to supportive friends, and yet, so much of their life remains mired in defeat. I have come to see that the main reason in the majority of such cases is that they have never settled the issue with God. They have come to many "voices" about it, but they have never really come to God.

The church is filled with those who have open, seeping wounds. Emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Their lives are wracked with unforgiveness, bitterness, fear, anxiety, shame, and guilt. All of it goes on because they have not heeded His invitation to "come, and reason with Me." We resist the invitation because we know that should we come, all of our excuses and reasons for our continuing in these various conditions cannot stand in the light of His presence. Almighty God will get to the root of everything in such a situation, and sometimes, oftentimes, that is the last thing we want.

It would seem that it would be the first, but we can become very comfortable in our misery. We have never known wholeness so we fear what it might be like for us. We don't like where we're at, but at least we feel we have some measure of control here. All of our control is lost when we come to Him. Having control can be the most driving force in our life. So, rather than come, we hold back. resist, and go on in our captivity. A captivity that He would break and end if we will have it. So as Havner says, our issues are not settled, and will never be settled until we get them settled with Him. When will our issues be settled with Him?

Where is His invitation to you going unheeded? Where does He ask you to come and reason with Him? Why are you stepping back, instead of forward? What does He call you to settle with Him but you choose to remain unsettled in it? The invitation keeps coming, but each resistance dulls the sound of His voice in it until we can no longer hear it. Can you hear it now?

Nothing is ever settled until it is settled with Him. In this verse from Isaiah, the Father speaks to the nation of Israel who have drifted far from His presence and are suffering the consequences. The longing of His heart is for them to come to Him, to be healed by Him, restored by Him. That is always the primary longing of His heart for us. Where is that longing reaching out to you right now? We all have issues and too many of them are never settled. They can be, if we'll but heed His calling to come, to reason, to settle it all right now. Come!

Blessings,

Pastor O