Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

I first memorized this verse when I was in elementary school, but that doesn’t make it any less important or relevant. The first half is vitally important to a proper understanding of sin. Most people think of sin as something we do deliberately, when the picture here is much more one of just “going with the flow,” following the crowd and all that. Grazing sheep will go to the next clump of vegetation that looks tasty, with no particular thought of direction at all. The key here is the phrase, “his own way.” The root of all sin is choosing self over God. That’s why Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) We don’t like to deny ourselves! God likes to give us good things, but if our motive is self indulgence, we aren’t following God. Honest self inspection will lead anyone to acknowledge that they are guilty here. That’s why Isaiah said clearly, “We all.” That’s why the second half of the verse is also vitally important, and is also enor­mously good news. God has taken our iniquity, our guilt, and placed it on Christ, and Christ took it to the cross. God is too holy to excuse sin, so he had to deal with it some other way. That way is so shocking that even after hundreds of years of a system of animal sacrifice to lay a foundation of understanding, people couldn’t grasp that the Son of God was going to shed His own blood, give His own life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Sadly, even 2000 years later, many can’t accept that, first of all, their sins would require such a sacrifice, and second, that God would love them so much as to follow through with it. That’s why the Gospel is a scandal in many places even today. There are multiple organizations, inspired by the devil, that are dedicated to stamping it out. Nigeria and various places in the Middle East immediately come to mind. However, for someone who has really tasted and received the marvelous grace of God, even martyrdom is not too high a price.

I have not experienced the organized violent opposition of anything like Boko Haram in Nigeria, for example, but I have certainly experienced great opposition to the Gospel. The “veil over their hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:13-16) seems incredibly dense at times. However, I am never to give up, but continue to proclaim the grace of God in the power and love of God, so that as many as will may receive, repent, and believe for their salvation.

Father, thank You for calling me back to basics. Thank You for the questions that were asked me last night that caused me to explain the situation of the Gospel in Japanese culture, putting it into sharp focus. I am painfully aware that I cannot overcome the barriers to the Gospel in my own strength and wisdom, but nothing is too difficult for You. Help me trust You and expect great things from You, walk­ing in faithful obedience at all times, so that Your Word may indeed accomplish everything for which You send it, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!