Becoming Like God

Isaiah 55 is a call for people to come and enjoy the blessings of the LORD. Whereas we were once separated from God because of our sins, we now have the opportunity to be with Him and partake of His blessings. This is possible because of the work of the Messiah as God had promised would come from the house of David. Chapter 53 also speaks of that redemptive, sacrificial work of Jesus.

But now in 55:6-9 we see a key component to that call to be with God. If we want to be with Him, we must be like Him. That seems impossible to do, yet it is necessary.  

Forsake wicked ways. “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).

The open call in verse 1 is given an urgent twist. God is accessible and ready to receive us—what a blessing! But the time to come to Him is now. We will not always have this opportunity and so we must come with enthusiasm and motivation to be united with Him.

If we want to come to God, He demands that we leave behind wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts. This is a part of grace that many misunderstand. God wants all to come to Him, but He will not accept us while we hold on to our sin. Sin is an abomination to God and He cannot bear to have it in His presence.

God also will not make the choice for us. Classical Calvinism claims that God chooses His disciples without their involvement—that He even changes our desires so that we will start serving Him. This passage is one of many that shows how we need to choose to forsake our sins. If we want the compassion of God, we must do things His way.

The extent of what God calls us to forsake is incredible. It is not just our actions but even our thoughts. I should want everything in me that is contrary to God to be put to death and replaced with something better.

God’s ways. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

These verses are often quoted out of context, which is a shame. The point frequently made from these verses is that God is so far removed from us in wisdom, power, and righteousness. We should feel small in His presence and realize how imperfect we are. This is not a bad conclusion to draw, but the context of the chapter gives us something else we should consider.

In a sense, we can never bridge the gap between our lowly state and God’s perfection. But God does not want us to simply resign ourselves to sin. Our ways and thoughts are not like His, but they should be! When we lay aside our sin and seek God, we will begin thinking and acting more like Him. This is the process of transformation that Scripture talks so much about.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2). We can present ourselves to God as holy and acceptable not because of our inherent goodness, but because of the incredible transformation that happens within us.

How do we change? To be transformed, we have to be cleansed of our sins. Asking God for forgiveness is crucial (Acts 3:19-20) and so to is submission to our Lord in baptism (Acts 2:38). In one sense, we are transformed immediately from citizens of darkness to citizens of light (Colossians 1:13-14), but in another sense, we have to be molded over time. Ask for wisdom (James 1:5-8) and don’t look back (Luke 9:62).

The more we serve God, pray to Him, read His word, and work in His kingdom, the more we think and act like Him. Praise God for His patience with us and our access to Him in Christ!

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