Isaiah 59

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2 NIV

“For our offences are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offences are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities:”. Isaiah 59:12 NIV

“The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; and his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.” Isaiah 59:15b-16 NIV

This chapter is clear to say that we are separated from God because of our sin and our corruption, and that it is our sin that prevents us from being in the presence of our Lord. He is perfect and sinless. He knows no sin, other than that which is our own. Our sins our many and will remain with us forever.

We cannot conquer sin on our own – that is evident in our lives as we strive to live a good life, but continually fail.

But our story does not need to end there. If we acknowledge our iniquities and confess our sins to the Lord, even though our sins are great His grace is greater! Knowing that there was no one who could take away the sins of this world, the Lord intervened and sent his son Jesus.

Jesus took on our sin and paid the penalty for our iniquities by dying on the cross at Calvary. Fuelled by his own righteousness, He took on the work of salvation. The price has been paid. Justice has been made.

Though we don’t deserve it and it is hard for us to fathom that someone would pay the price for our sin, may we let Christ intervene in our lives as well, allowing Him to clothe us with his righteousness. The same righteousness that sustained Him to achieve the gift of salvation and overcome death, is the same righteousness that offers us eternal life.