Guest Blog written by: Ethan Pettigrew

The passage that stuck out to me the most today is one that I luckily got to read. Waking up this morning I had no clue where my paper was that said what to read every day, so I asked what I needed to read and I was told to read one specific chapter. After reading that chapter, however, I didn’t really feel compelled to write anything about it. I put my Bible down to think and my bible opened up to a chapter in Daniel which is where my sheet was so ended up being able to read the whole reading instead of just one tidbit.

My attention was first drawn to Isaiah 59 because of its subheading in my Bible, Sin and Redemption. As I read, I started thinking about how similar the things described are to how we live today. Its so hard in this time to find truly honest people, especially in media and politics, who aren’t trying to put their own spin on things or don’t lie just to gain popularity. In our own lives we sin and try to cover it up with lies that we think hide what we’ve done when in reality the lies are incredibly easy to see through. We all chase after sinful things and not a day goes by that we don’t think unclean or hurtful thoughts (I know I can’t at least). We search for things that will fulfill our internal longings but we don’t look towards the One who overflows all with His love. And anyone who tries to turn to God gets persecuted in one way or another.

Because of our sins, it was impossible for us to be in the presence of God and seemed like it would stay that way for eternity. God had no reason to save us and we were worthless to him. Because of His great love, however, He sent part of Himself to rescue us. It was a suicide mission for our future and He assigned His Son to the job. And since we had to suffer so long, He is personally going to punish all who oppose Him and His cause. He will make all know that He’s in charge and will be praised all over the world.

Something else that stuck out is that even though this passage is in the book of Isaiah, it tells of things that happen in the New Testament. It doesn’t exactly tell the story of Jesus, but it clearly tells of a Savior to come. The one that baffled me is how it makes a reference to verses that appear in Revelation. Revelation talks of a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord and Isaiah tells of a day when all will fear Yahweh.

It’s truly incredible how God perfectly works everything out and it is so apparent that he has a plan at all times. I have been in Honduras for the past week and there have been times when I honestly had no clue what was going on, but God always worked those situations out perfectly and the results are some of the most memorable moments of the trip.