Let us Reason Together
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (19) If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (20) But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it…” (Isaiah 1:18-20)
Reason to stop sin!
Our Lord invited the unfaithful children of God to reason together with Him. They had forgotten the sovereignty of God. They had turned away from the One who had brought them up out of bondage and delivered them into that land “that floweth with milk and honey…” (Lev. 20:24) They had done that which even their domesticated livestock had not done – they had forgotten who their master was.
“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. (3) The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider…” (Isaiah 1:2-3)
God had done so much for them, yet they forgot Him; turned their back on Him; went in the opposite direction from Him. “Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward…” (Isaiah 1:4)
Even with all this, the Lord pleaded with them to reason with Him. The word “reason” here indicates that God is calling (commanding really) for an end to His dispute with Israel over their sin. He offered them complete and total pardon. Though their sins were a red, bloody stain upon their lives, He would pardon them to point that the scarlet stain of their sins was washed away and the condition of their souls were made pure once more. This reasoning was based upon all that He had done for them. This pardon was offered to those who would become obedient to His will. The offer of cleansing would not be extended to those who chose to remain in their sin.
Sin leaves a crimson stain upon all who give into it. Our sins mar the perfection of our souls; ruin our holiness; destroy our immortal souls. God calls on us to respond to His offer of salvation and cleansing. Let us reason based upon the love of God who “gave His only begotten Son” to take away the stain of our sins. When we apply the understanding of this great love and sacrifice, and our knowledge of the “mercies of God,” surely it must cause us to want to give our reasonable response to that perfect sacrifice.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God…” (Romans 12:1-2)