We all have gone astray
Isaiah 53:6
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6a says we all, like sheep, have ‘gone astray’ and each of us has ‘turned to our own way’.
This happens when we don’t have God’s Word and are ignorant or we know God’s Word and are rebellious. The sinners are spiritually blinded and disobedient.
When the snake deceived the woman (Genesis 3:4-5), she ate the forbidden fruits and gave some to her husband, Adam, to eat (Genesis 3:6). Although they had all other trees to eat from (Genesis 2:16), they ate from the forbidden tree (Genesis 2:17). They made a bad choice. The result was ‘destruction’. They were judged by God and received the death sentence (Genesis 3:16-19). They were expelled from the Eden Garden (Genesis 3:23) and prohibited from the tree of life (Genesis 3:22). In the New Testament, ‘destruction’ was warned in Galatians 6:7-8.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
People repeat the mistake of the first man and woman by eating from one forbidden tree instead of all other trees freely available. The result of making such a bad choice is destruction.
Let us learn some of the Law related to love, sex and marriage for example.
Marriage is not sin (1 Corinthians 7:28). The Law does not condemn a man who seduces a virgin not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, but he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife (Exodus 22:16-17, cf. Exodus 22:28-29).
However, the law condemns to death a man who rapes or sleeps with a virgin pledged to be married (Exodus 22:23-27). The law also condemns to death a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife (Leviticus 20:10).
How to avoid making a bad choice? See Psalm 119:9.
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
The answer is simple: “By living according to God’s Word.”
God exists, prepares and provides for you. God prepared Eden Garden for Adam! So, it is unwise to break His law to get what your flesh desires. He will provide in His time. Wait for Him! Why would you lose the Eden Garden and the Eternal Life for the forbidden tree?
Despite it, Isaiah 53:6a was how we have been. Jesus came and paid for our sins. He died for our sins, and we don’t want to sin anymore. We want to live according to God’s Word. This is fulfilled by living according to the Spirit that God put inside us (Romans 8:3-4). Through Jesus Christ, the Spirit gave us life and set us free from sin and death (Romans 8:2). Romans 8:1-17 teaches us about the ‘Spirit-led life’. Also, learn The meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
However, if we live according to the flesh, we will die (Romans 8:13a). We have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:12).
Note that the Word is spirit (John 6:63) and living according to the Word is the same as living according to the Spirit. Therefore, studying the Holy Bible is crucial.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
