Day 213.
I also will choose harsh treatment for them
and bring their fears upon them,
because when I called, no one answered,
when I spoke, they did not listen;
but they did what was evil in my eyes
and chose that in which I did not delight.” (Isaiah 66:4 ESV)
When the day of judgment comes it can be said that those who receive punishment are those who rejected the calling of the Lord. This is not the basis of judgment, mind you. The basis of judgment is our inherited guilt from Adam as well as our own sin. But in God’s grace He has made known His salvation to the nations. One might argue that not all have heard; that there are some who live in corners of the earth where no missionary has ever gone. That may be true but Paul explains in Romans, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20 ESV)” So everyone has heard at least the general call of God. However Isaiah’s point is that the far reaches of the earth will hear more specifically about the glory of God; about the salvation that comes through His suffering servant. The intent is that God’s servants will travel to the ends of the earth to spread the gospel.
That leaves two questions for us. When God calls, do you hear? When God calls, will you go?
