Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

The Christian view of change – a balanced emphasis on thinking, feeling and behaving

“let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ““For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” [e.g. Is. 55:7-11 (English Standard Version)].

The Servant’s work makes relationship with a holy God possible, but our work, having appropriated the Servant’s work by faith, makes fellowship with a holy God possible. 55:10-11 There is a reason sinners need to change their ways and thoughts, with the Lord’s help, and that is because the word of the Lord is absolutely dependable. All that God has said is reliable, including His promise of pardon and compassion (v. 7; cf. 53:10). God’s word is like the rain and snow, the gifts of God from heaven to earth (cf. v. 9).633 Both achieve their purpose of bringing life, nourishment, and blessing to humanity (cf. Therefore, since God has promised compassion and forgiveness for those who seek Him, people can count on the fact that if they seek Him this will be His response.

“As the rain furnishes both seed and bread, so the word of God plants the seed of repentance in the heart and feeds the returning sinner with the blessed consequences repentance produces.”

1. The Word of God SPANS FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH.
In verse 7 God says that the wicked person should forsake his ways and that the unrighteous man should forsake his thoughts. So our predicament is that our ways and our thoughts are getting us in trouble. Why are they? Why do they need to be forsaken?

The answer is given in verse 8. God says that the reason we need to forsake our thoughts and our ways is that they fall so far short of his thoughts and ways. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” This is why our thoughts and ways are getting us in trouble. They are not God’s. God’s thoughts are pure and our are impure. God’s ways are righteous and ours are unrighteous.

Before there were telescopes if you wanted to illustrate the farthest distance imaginable what would you say? You might look down and say, “Between here and the depth of the sea.” Because no one had ever been to the bottom of the sea, and who knows how far it may go on down there beneath the surface of the water. Or you might look out and say, “As far as the East is from the West.” Because you could go for ever in opposite directions. Or you might look up and say, “Between the earth and the heavens.” The utterly inaccessible heavens, where the sun and moon and stars move outside the reach of man.

When God says that his holy thoughts are that far above our unholy thoughts and his righteous ways are that far above our selfish ways, he means that there is an infinite chasm between him in his holiness and us in our sin. Every time you hear the vague, pantheistic talk of New Age thinking, ask this question: Is there in this talk a clear conviction that man in his sin and God in his holiness are separated and alienated from each other as far as the earth is from the heavens? This is one of the Biblical tuning rods to test whether the tones of the New Age are in harmony with God.

Now notice very carefully what words from verse 9 are picked up in verse 10 as God begins to tell us about his word. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth. . .” Do you see where God is heading in these words?

In verse 9 he was stressing the distance between heaven and earth to show us how hopeless our separation is from God. But now in verse 10 he opens a door of hope. Even though the heavens are high above the earth, there is a coming down from heaven to the earth. The rain and the snow come down. The heaven does not always stand off from the earth with brilliant, distant, unattainable glory.

And then verse 11 says, that’s the way God is. He does not stand aloof, in his distance. His heart grows warm and tender. He spans the infinite separation between heaven and earth.

“So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth.” The word of God is a SPAN FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH. This was true every time a prophet spoke of old. And it became true in the most wonderful form in Jesus Christ.

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And the Word became flesh ans dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” (John 1:1,14)

Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matt. 11:28-30)

God is not a standoffish God. The Word of God is a span—a saving span—between heaven and earth.

Look at the light this sheds on verse 6. “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.”

How is it that God comes near? He comes near in his Word! When you read the Bible, or when you sit under the preaching of God’s word, God is crossing a chasm to meet you. So when Isaiah says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found,

The word of God (the written Word and the living Word) is the saving span of that God sends from heaven to earth so that his thoughts can begin to become our thoughts and his ways our ways.

2. The Word of God is a SEED OF LIFE.

verse 10: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth an sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater . . .” Notice, God mentions five things that the rain does after it comes down: 1) it waters the earth, 2) it makes it bring forth, 3) it makes it sprout, 4) it gives seed to the sower, and 5) it gives bread to the eater.

Now why does God draw out this comparison in such detail before he says (in verse 11), “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth”? Surely he draws out the comparison to know and feel the real reason why he spans heaven and earth with his Word.

In other words God wants you this morning when you read these two verses to believe with all your heart that his Word is a SEED OF LIFE. When he draws near to you in his word he wants you to feel the way your brown back yard would feel when the rain starts to fall on it

Matthew 4:4 “But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”” ESV

2 Tim 3:15 “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” ESV

Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” ESV

Psalm 119:9, 11 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word…I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” ESV

Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word…I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” ESV

Psalm 119:50, 71, 80 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life…“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes…Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.” ESV

Psalm 119:130, 133 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple…Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”

Psalm 119:148, 165 “My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise…Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” ESV

Psalm 19:7-11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; “the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; “the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. “Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” ESV

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” [e.g. Ro. 12:2].

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” [e.g. 2 Cor. 10:4-5].

2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, “that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” ESV

How Does God Go About Changing Us?

His thoughts His ways

D E

my thoughts my ways

B C

3. God’s Word Rules

Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” ESV