13/08/2021
RETURN UNTO ME; FOR I HAVE REDEEMED THEE
Isaiah 44 (KJV)
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²¹ Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
²² I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. — Isaiah 44:22 (KJV)
How would a servant of a king react and feel, after that his king and master had cast him away for a wrong he has done, and that servant have been banished from his lord's kindgom and providence, cast off into the dreary darkness and piercing cold of this dark world, cast off to wander aimlessly and then to die reproachfully? And out of the awful darkness he is in, comes out the king's voice to him crying return, return to me my servant for I have redeemed you from all your wrongs and evil deed, return from the darkness of your evil deed, return from the cold hands of death that wrapped around your soul to steal it to doom, return at once to feast with your king, return at once to the light of my kingdom and life, now how would this servant feel after hearing his lord's call, I tell you he will jump up at once without delay, he will bid the darkness goodbye without contemplating it, with a great cry of endless joy will he cry out saying, I come to you o king, I return to your loving and tender mercies. That servant will feel joy unspeakable and his response to the king's call will be prompt.
This then ought to be our attitude towards the great King of glory, we have sinned, and our sins have cast us away from our God and Creator, our sins have banished us from his kingdom of light to outter darkness of this world, where we are left to wander in misery till we die without God and without hope of eternal life.
Yet in our misery, came the king's voice, calling us to return, to come out of our sins and step into His mercies, to come out of darkness into his marvelous light. So well did the writer of this hymn so composed it.
1. Out of my bo***ge, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
2. Out of my shameful failure and
loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storm and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
3. Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee
Out of my self to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above.
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
4. Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy home,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
The prodigal son returned after many years of wandering away from divine love and providence like a vagabond, and yet there was still a place of forgiveness for him, with loving arms of embrace was he received back home, and a fine clothes were put on him, signifying the removal of the old man of sin, and the putting on of the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, old things gone now, all things new at the touch of God's mercy, and it is the same mercy calling you now to return.
Like the thick cloud in the sky when it's about to rain, and suddenly cleared away by the brightness of the sun rising, even so has God through Jesus Christ cleared all our sins away, the darkness of your sins have been washed away by the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, the thickness of your sins have been blotted out.
Now there is nothing holding you back from returning to God whom have formed you in your mother's belly, look back now and see, where are all your sins, they are all gone, they have been drowned into the very depth of the sea of God's forgetfulness, never to be remembered against you anymore, and with this assurance you can boldly come to the throne of grace this day and be at peace with your God whom have created you, for he have redeemed you, and you are his own.
Come at once to him this day, no more guilt and condemnation to hold you back, there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, come and dine with Jesus today and ever live victoriously in his presence.
God has not forgotten you, that is why he sent this message to you this day, as a reminder that he still loves you, and he wants you to return to him this moment. May you find grace to return to Jesus Christ this day, amen.
