Isaiah 45:22 Look to me, and be you saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. The great sin of man, ever since he has fallen, has been that of idolatry. He is ever seeking to get away from God, who is real, but whom he cannot see, and to make for himself a god, which can only be an idol, but which pleases him because he can gaze upon it. And thus it comes to pass that, some with images of wood and stone, and others with carnal confidences and the like, put something else into the place which should be occupied by God alone; and they look to that something, and expect good from it, instead of looking for all good to God, and to Him alone. This looking to anything which usurps the place of God cannot but be most offensive to Him, and it must also be very disappointing to ourselves, for it is impossible for the false god to yield us any true comfort. Yet note the Lord s great patience even with those who are thus provoking Him by this idolatry of theirs. I. FOR SALVATION OUT OF ANY TROUBLE, WE SHOULD LOOK TO GOD ALONE. There are some troubles in which men do look to God alone. I have known even the most profane men turn to God, after a fashion, in the hour of supreme peril. Now, if men will act thus by the compulsion of great calamity, is there not sound reason why you should, cheerfully and willingly, do the same, and resort to God in every trial, and difficulty, and dilemma? Is any trial too slight for you to bring in prayer before Him? II. FOR ETERNAL SALVATION, WE MUST LOOK TO GOD ALONE. 1. Salvation is not to be found in any mere agent. 2. The great thing that thou needest to know, and look at, and rely upon, is the mercy of God. 3. Since God says, "Look unto Me," let me ask you whether you are looking unto Him as He has revealed Himself to us in His Word? 4. Especially is it intended that we should look unto God as He reveals Himself in the person and work of His dear Son. 5. Settle this matter in your mind as an absolute certainty that, whoever and whatever you are, you may look to God in Christ, and be saved. 6. Let no feeling of thine beat thee off from looking to Christ. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.WEB: "Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. |
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