Look unto Me

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth:
for I am God, and there is none else.
(Isaiah 45:22)

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15), which is the best possible news I can share with you today. Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross to give us eternal life, saving repentant sinners from damnation in hell. If you are a Christian genuinely dwelling in Christ, you already know the miracle of being “saved by grace”.

Thank you for stopping by today . . .
I wrote this message especially for you!

Our text for today is, “Look unto Me and be ye saved”, which is God’s plea for all sinners to look upon Himself, and Him alone to be saved. These seven little words forge a great chasm between those en route to heaven, and others travelling the wide road to hell. If I were to enquire on which side you are standing, how would you answer? God’s invitation is to any sinner, without exception, regardless or race, colour, or creed; to only look to Him for salvation from sin.

Do I hear you saying, “But sir, I am not a terrible person; I have not murdered anybody, nor am I guilty of robbery. Surely, God would not cast me into hell.” Madam, listen to me with your full attention. Yes, perhaps you have not murdered your neighbour in the literal sense, yet you are still guilty of murder. “Nonsense! I am no murderer!”, you reply. “Believe me, you have done so in the eyes of Almighty God. Your precious soul is stained with the blackness of sin; you cannot hide your crimes from He who sees and knows all.”

Look with me, O sinner at the charge laid upon you this night. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22) – The Old Testament penalty for murder was death, typically carried out by stoning. Given the severity of the penalty, the matter was to be carefully examined and judged according to the Laws established by God. “He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.” (Exodus 21:12) – Jesus’ warning about murder magnified the law against murder to encompass the mere thought of murder, and equating it to anger. While I will not go into this further here, do not for a moment be deceived by the words, “without a cause”, as it is 99.9% certain not to apply here.

Yes, Madam, you are a murderer in the eyes of God, firmly walking the wide road leading to the gates of hellfire. Do I really need to go through all of God’s commands which you have assuredly broken? No matter, breaking a single law or commandment even one time and in the slightest degree, is more than sufficient to break all of them. Yes, O sinner, God’s Laws are piercing in their conviction of sin, so broad in application; you are guilty, condemned to eternal torment for all time. Here is another charge of which you are guilty; “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3:10) – also, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:19-20) – Madam, you surely are not so arrogant as to assert you have perfectly continued in all things written in the book of law?

No, you cannot be that conceited as to believe you are “not that bad”. I’m sorry, you are, and very much more so. Your sins against God are as numerous as the stars in heaven, each one carefully recorded by the One who will be your judge. No matter how “good” you try to be, God’s Laws are there, stalking you as a predator, waiting for the slightest mistake, the most minor slip up before the death blow comes upon you. Sinner, you have not been able to perfectly keep even one commandment, let alone all of them. ‘O sir, what must I do!”, you cry out. “Look unto Him and be saved” is your only hope. Look unto God to have your sins forgiven and cleansed from the soul. Do not trust in your own works or efforts; they are all as filthy rags and lead to hell. Look unto Him who was bruised for your iniquities.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows:
yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned every one to his own way;
and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Are you trying to earn your way to heaven by doing kind deeds? God says, “Look unto Me, and trust not in your good works.”

Perhaps instead you say, “I’ll volunteer for the children’s ministry at church, then God will see how much I love him.” God says, “Look unto Me alone, your efforts to gain My favour are counted as nothing.”

Are you an atheist? God says, “Look unto Me and be saved.”

Are you an evolutionist? God says, “Look unto Me, and I will tell thee how thou was formed in the womb.”

Are you a Muslim? God says, “Look unto Me for thy salvation.”
“Tell ye, and bring them near;
yea, let them take counsel together:
who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me;
a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” (Isaiah 45:21)

Irrespective of race, nationality, heritage, language, skin colour, or creed; each one of us, without exception have sinned against God, and are deserving of an eternity in the lake of fire. You are guilty. I am guilty. We are all guilty. None of us will escape judgment and damnation with looking exclusively, singularity, and completely to God, and Him alone for our salvation.

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
(Isaiah 42:8-9)

O Sinner, look unto me, and be ye saved!

George,