Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
God calls every person to the ends of the earth to turn to Him and be saved, because He alone is God and there is no other Saviour beside Him. To look to Him is to look in faith to Christ lifted up on the cross as the sin-bearer, as Israel looked to the raised serpent to live, for pardon and healing come only through His sacrifice and blood. This looking means depending wholly on Him and not on self or on any human being for wisdom, strength, righteousness, and spiritual life. All who so look receive salvation with forgiveness, peace, righteousness and strength, are changed into His image, and conquer temptation through His power united to their weakness. The invitation is open to all now in the day of salvation, and none who trusts in Jesus will be left to perish.
Wording and Context
The call reaches to all the ends of the earth to look to God and be saved, because He is God and there is none else. It is an open invitation to every nation and people, not spoken in secret, joining the call to seek God with the carrying of that message to the world. Salvation in its setting means being justified in the Lord, finding righteousness and strength in Him, and glorying in Him, while all who are incensed against Him and opposed to Him are ashamed. Those who come to Him are justified and have reason to glory, for God has redeemed His people and offers righteousness and strength to those who turn to Him.
He is the Lord alone, a just God and a Saviour, and there is no other God beside Him. No idol and no god that cannot save can save, and deliverance comes only by turning to Him alone. The next verse adds that unto Him every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess and swear allegiance to Him. That bowing and swearing stands with judgment, when all shall stand before the judgment seat of God and every one give account of himself to God. Because all belong to the Lord in life and death, whether living or dying, no one is to judge his brother or set him at nought, but to put no stumblingblock or occasion to fall in his brother's way.
The invitation was proclaimed by Isaiah as a prophet of hope, spoken openly before gathered men, women, and children. The chapter belongs to promises continuing chapter after chapter, God's covenant of what He has done for His people and what He will do for them. Its words are encouragement to be read and appreciated, to be claimed by following on to know the Lord, whose going forth is prepared as the morning. Greater appreciation of that encouragement should produce more missionary work and more missionary spirit, so that His name is glorified even in the highways and the hedges.
The chapter reveals the greatness of the love and compassion of God, too little known, in pure, excellent language with elevating, ennobling principles and the loftiest themes of thought. It requires stretching the faculties of the mind to comprehend, and shows the Word of God in living characters. It belongs in schools as a valuable study, better than romance or fables. It turns life away from devotion to a world soon to be destroyed, toward heaven as home and citizenship above, and toward the city whose Builder and Maker is God.
One God Alone
God alone is God, and He is the only safe trust, infinite in power and all-sufficient to save everyone who comes to Him. He has power to save all who turn to Him, and there is no other safe and certain help apart from Him. Work for Him cannot be done in human strength or by human merit, but only by continual, trustful dependence on Christ, and such dependence makes victory over difficulties and perplexities not only possible but certain. That dependence gives full assurance in Christ as Leader even when multitudes press on in the wrong way and the outlook is discouraging, calling for trust in Him when circumstances look discouraging.
He is the unique Creator whose power and care are remembered through the Sabbath, which stands as a sign that He is Lord and God of His people. The Sabbath keeps in memory that the Creator who alone is God is the source of salvation for all people everywhere. Nature reveals His creative power, and the word that created all things gives life and strength to the soul.
The call to look to Him teaches His people to seek wisdom from Him rather than rely on finite, dependent human beings. Salvation in Him includes being justified in the Lord and finding righteousness and strength in Him, so that those who come to Him may glory while those opposed to Him will be ashamed. Looking to Him, applied to Christ as the Light, means depending on Him and not on human beings for strength, guidance, wisdom, power, and spiritual life. It means placing whole trust in Him as a safe refuge rather than on one's own wisdom, relying on Him for help and guidance as the source of spiritual light and life.
The human agent must not limit the Holy One of Israel by judging character as fixed by birth or by head-reading. Though the destroyer has nearly obliterated God's image in man, Christ is the Restorer, and all who connect with God by looking to Him will have His moral image restored in them. Hereditary peculiarities and deficiencies of character can be overcome through faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ, which is the new birth, so no one is bound to follow a course shaped by phrenology or by human counsel contrary to God's counsel.
The verse calls creatures to turn attention from confusion and perplexity around them to look to God and admire His handiwork. The heavenly bodies and the wonderful things His hand has made are worthy of contemplation, made for the benefit of man, and teach His love, care, and power. Looking at them makes the proud, foolish heart feel its dependence and inferiority and gives a sense of His condescension. As men study His works, angels are by their side to enlighten their minds and guard them from deception, in order to learn to love and reverence and obey Him.
Universal Call to Salvation
The invitation of mercy is unlimited and extends to all the earth. It stands in harmony with the purpose that His house be a place of prayer for all peoples, where He sits enthroned giving audience to the world, so that all people praise Him and the whole earth is filled with His glory. It is to be carried forth now to all places of the earth as never before.
The ends of the earth means heathen lands, every nation, and the most distant lands. Workers are to carry the gospel across the world and teach people in their own languages, so that the light of Christ may reach every part. As the Word enlightens people to see Jesus as the gift and living Saviour whose life was given as a sacrifice for the world, barriers that make customs seem difficult to reach can change.
His invitation is open and not spoken in secret or in darkness. He never asks anyone to seek Him in vain, for He speaks righteousness and declares what is right. No soul who trusts in Jesus is ever left to perish. The call is universal and is a call to repentance. It is open now in the day of salvation through the Spirit's invitation, calling each person to come to Jesus and choose eternal life.
No one need remain on the side of those under wrath. The sinner is urged to come with the whole heart, repent, confess sin to God, forsake iniquity, and then claim and appropriate all God's promises as his own. The verse calls the church to her appointed work so the way may be prepared for His everlasting kingdom. She is to arise and shine because her light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon her while darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people, with Gentiles coming to her light and kings to the brightness of her rising, sons and daughters gathered from far, strangers building her walls, and gates open continually day and night to bring in the forces of the Gentiles and their kings in mercy.
Salvation is offered to all and comes by looking to Christ in faith. The sacrificial service was to lift Him up before the nations so that all who looked to Him might live. Israel was meant to reveal God's character and carry this invitation to the whole world, joining the call to seek God with the church's work of carrying that message to every nation and people. Christ's death was not for the Jewish nation only but for the whole world to the ends of the earth.
His dying outside the camp where felons and murderers were executed shows He suffered the sinner's penalty for everyone and gave His life for all kindreds, tongues, and people. The inscription above the cross, placed by the hand of the Lord and written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, publishes that call to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people to the ends of the earth. As those who looked at the raised serpent were healed, those who look to Christ lifted up as the sin-bearer are offered salvation. His crucifixion at a gathering attended by representatives from many nations helped make this message known to the remotest regions.
Looking in Faith to Christ
To look to God for salvation is to look to His Son, whose life was given as a sacrifice for the world, and He is to be received as the gift and living Saviour. As the Word enlightens people to see Jesus, barriers that make customs seem difficult to reach can change. The One to be looked to draws with the matchless attractions of the Son of God, God made known in human flesh, the mystery hidden for ages, and accepting or rejecting Him as Saviour of the world decides eternal interests. The call to look and live is set forth by Christ lifted up as the sin-bearer like the raised serpent, for as Israelites had to look at the lifted serpent to live, sinners must look to Christ lifted on the cross. Sin's deadly effects can be removed only through Him, and while the serpent had no power of its own, Christ has power to heal the repentant sinner. Israel's sacrifices likewise had no saving power in themselves but were types pointing to Christ the great Sin-Offering, to be offered with penitent hearts and faith in His atoning sacrifice, and His crucifixion before representatives from many nations helped make this healing, life-giving message of hope, courage, faith, pardon and life known to the remotest regions for all bitten by the old serpent the devil.
Looking saves because He has borne human iniquities and by the stripes laid on Him healing is provided. Jesus is the sin-pardoning Saviour whose sacrifice and blood are the source of forgiveness, true satisfaction and joy, who died in the sinner's place and gives life to the transgressor. Looking means relying on His strength, through which peace is made with God and the soul's faculties are awakened to new life and energy. It means seeking nearness to Him above every other person in love, faith and perfect trust, resting safely in His wisdom and strength as a child rests in a father's, turning the eye of faith away from self to Jesus the sin-bearer who died to make pardon possible.
Looking to Christ strengthens and uplifts, drives away gloom and darkness, gives the light of life and joy through assurance of His love, and by beholding Him a person is changed into His image and likeness, shares His spirit, and has His righteousness cover human unworthiness. No one who truly looks remains in darkness, for following Him brings the light of life and points discouraged people to Him who heals both body and soul. Turning the face toward Jesus the Sun of Righteousness brings health and light from His countenance, with rays of life and light beaming from Him. Looking is done by talking of Jesus, dwelling on His matchless charms, eating the bread of life, taking the water of life freely, keeping the heart in meditation on His spotless character of compassion and love, renouncing all selfishness, and taking in the sacrifice of Calvary until the height and depth and length and breadth of the love of God is comprehended.
The sinner must fix the eyes on Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away sin, as the Way, the Truth and the Life, and by faith carry the mind within the veil to view Him as Intercessor before the mercy seat instead of deploring sinfulness. This brings God's power, satisfies the soul's hunger, gives faith, hope and courage, opens the soul to receive truth, sanctifies by transforming influence, removes fear and condemnation, breaks down barriers by His sacrificial love, creates love for God's commandments and gratitude, and wins the heart to repentance. It is a theme simple enough for children yet holding unfathomable depths of wisdom, love and power, to be preached again and again, with the mind refusing to stay upon self or be ensnared by the enemy's devices. He is not reluctant to save but bends over the purchase of His blood with tenderness, pity and love, understanding weakness and accepting repentance from broken, contrite hearts. The call is for immediate full trust without waiting for better opportunities, yielding wholly, feeling hopelessly lost without Him, taking hold of His strength to make peace, and pleading great need as the argument for help, for He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit than parents to give good gifts, bringing into light, guiding into truth, and clothing with the beauty of holiness leading to loving obedience rather than self-exaltation. The look that saves brings unsearchable riches and eternal glory, sanctifying, refining and ennobling by daily partaking of the divine nature and escaping worldly corruption, and everyone who truly looks then carries a burden in simplicity, meekness and love to save perishing souls within reach.
Forgiveness Strength and Deliverance
Those who turn to Him receive salvation, and with it righteousness and strength, for in the Lord alone the ends of the earth are justified and have reason to glory. Trusting Him brings salvation with forgiveness, peace and comfort, and grace is given to everyone who looks. His Son has been given to bear the sins of those who seek truth and righteousness.
This salvation was made possible because Christ lived and died as a man and rose again to be Lord both of the dead and the living. By being executed in man's stead He purchased human life, so that believers can attain immortality and cannot lose eternal life if they believe on Him.
Work for God cannot be done in human strength or by human merit, but only by continual trustful dependence on Christ. Such dependence makes victory over difficulties and perplexities not only possible but certain, giving full assurance in Christ as Leader even when multitudes press on in the wrong way and the outlook is discouraging. Looking unites divine power to human weakness, so that with God's blessing and by Christ's strength and grace the weak and tempted can wrestle against temptation for themselves, gain ascendency over perverted appetite and debasing passion, and stand victorious in God-given manhood. Every soul who looks in faith to Christ will conquer Satan's temptations, for even the oldest and most experienced Christians are assailed yet gain victory through trust in Jesus, and the same conquest is open to all who look in faith.
The call is an invitation to abandon hope in self and flee to God the sure foundation before ruin comes. Trusting in self is building on sand that will end in ruin when the tempest breaks, while turning to God and resting hope on Him is fleeing to the sure foundation where escape from impending destruction is still possible now.
Looking to the Saviour means trusting and believing in Jesus rather than dwelling on personal weakness or keeping the mind upon self, which weakens moral power. Casting the helpless soul on Christ brings joy and peace, and turning attention from self to Jesus to live brings wonderful healing of soul and body, for He is found to be a present help in every time of need. This beholding means viewing Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, putting away every vestige of Satan's attributes and refusing to let the mind be ensnared by the enemy's devices.
The invitation gives hope to sinners, including the sick and those newly awakened to their need, who find refuge, life, rest and salvation in Jesus through faith and acceptance of His promises. Looking to Jesus to save from sin and give eternal life changes beholders into His likeness, and pointing discouraged people toward Christ who heals both body and soul carries out this call. It is to be told to the sick and to the once indifferent one whose awakened conscience cries for mercy and to be made a child of God, assuring him that hope remains in Jesus, and those who present this hope of the gospel to afflicted souls in meekness and love speak for the One who gave Himself for all mankind to become a tender, sympathetic, compassionate Healer of soul as well as body. Devising every means to bring this saving of souls about is the work for which medical institutions exist.
This deliverance also invites those who have handled God's work without a living connection with Him, seeking gain for His cause by oppressive dealing and denying others their just rights, to abandon their evil ways and seek Him who alone is a just God and Saviour.
Proclaiming and Living the Call
The invitation belongs to every nation and is to be proclaimed throughout the world, for it calls all people and all the nations to turn to the living God and receive salvation because He alone is God. It is unlimited in scope, and those who are convicted and converted answer with humility and unreserved consecration to Him. To this belongs the assurance that every knee will bow to God and every tongue will swear allegiance to Him. Greater appreciation of the covenant promises and encouragement concerning what God has done and will do for those who follow on to know Him should produce more missionary work and more missionary spirit in the churches. That mercy is unlimited, calling all the ends of the earth to look to Him and be saved, and it requires going forth to all places of the earth with this invitation now as never before. This going forth stands in perfect harmony with His plan for His temple to be a house of prayer for all people, where He sits enthroned giving audience to the world, so that all people praise Him, the whole earth is filled with His glory, and His name is glorified even in the highways and the hedges. Responding to His mercy means trusting in the Lord, being comforted in His love, and praising Him because His anger is turned away. His invitation is open and not spoken in secret or darkness, and He never asks anyone to seek Him in vain, for He speaks righteousness and declares what is right. No soul who trusts in Jesus is ever left to perish. The call sounds from His throne above and teaches what it means to believe, to be believing and not faithless, and to be filled with faith and hope rather than low, desponding talk. It forbids exalting self and also depreciating self, since believers are the Lord's property, and it requires glorifying Him by offering praise, speaking His praises, and talking faith with joy in the King instead of praising self. The saving look means fleeing for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us and trusting Jesus as the living Advocate with the Father who saves to the uttermost all who come to God through Him. Those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious answer by trusting without fear, finding strength and song in the Lord Jehovah as their salvation, and helping others in the region and shadow of death to trust Him. Looking to Christ is a privilege and duty, and those who look to Him can live by receiving His grace, loveliness, and sufficiency. Christ is their willing Teacher, and those who submit to Him and learn from Him find rest. Looking to Him includes praying for the Holy Spirit as the great need, with humble and earnest prayer. The verse calls for simple, confiding, increased faith in Jesus Christ at every step, because He is the Author and Finisher of faith and will never leave a helpless soul to perish in guilt and sin, but any such soul will live if he looks to Him. This looking faith lightens the burden and relieves the weariness of life by viewing the attractiveness of heaven, showing the need for Christ every hour. It is a healing, life-giving message sounding now that gives hope, courage, faith, pardon, and life by pointing sinners to the Saviour lifted up on the shameful cross, where all who have been bitten by the old serpent the devil are called to look to Him and live. The call to look and live is an appeal to trust God and receive life, for people everywhere are saved by looking to God in faith because He alone is God. Looking to Christ means turning toward Him to receive life and light.
God calls every person to the ends of the earth to turn to Him and be saved, because He alone is God and there is no other Saviour beside Him. To look to Him is to look in faith to Christ lifted up on the cross as the sin-bearer, as Israel looked to the raised serpent to live, for pardon and healing come only through His sacrifice and blood. This looking means depending wholly on Him and not on self or on any human being for wisdom, strength, righteousness, and spiritual life. All who so look receive salvation with forgiveness, peace, righteousness and strength, are changed into His image, and conquer temptation through His power united to their weakness. The invitation is open to all now in the day of salvation, and none who trusts in Jesus will be left to perish.
Wording and Context
The call reaches to all the ends of the earth to look to God and be saved, because He is God and there is none else. It is an open invitation to every nation and people, not spoken in secret, joining the call to seek God with the carrying of that message to the world. Salvation in its setting means being justified in the Lord, finding righteousness and strength in Him, and glorying in Him, while all who are incensed against Him and opposed to Him are ashamed. Those who come to Him are justified and have reason to glory, for God has redeemed His people and offers righteousness and strength to those who turn to Him.
He is the Lord alone, a just God and a Saviour, and there is no other God beside Him. No idol and no god that cannot save can save, and deliverance comes only by turning to Him alone. The next verse adds that unto Him every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess and swear allegiance to Him. That bowing and swearing stands with judgment, when all shall stand before the judgment seat of God and every one give account of himself to God. Because all belong to the Lord in life and death, whether living or dying, no one is to judge his brother or set him at nought, but to put no stumblingblock or occasion to fall in his brother's way.
The invitation was proclaimed by Isaiah as a prophet of hope, spoken openly before gathered men, women, and children. The chapter belongs to promises continuing chapter after chapter, God's covenant of what He has done for His people and what He will do for them. Its words are encouragement to be read and appreciated, to be claimed by following on to know the Lord, whose going forth is prepared as the morning. Greater appreciation of that encouragement should produce more missionary work and more missionary spirit, so that His name is glorified even in the highways and the hedges.
The chapter reveals the greatness of the love and compassion of God, too little known, in pure, excellent language with elevating, ennobling principles and the loftiest themes of thought. It requires stretching the faculties of the mind to comprehend, and shows the Word of God in living characters. It belongs in schools as a valuable study, better than romance or fables. It turns life away from devotion to a world soon to be destroyed, toward heaven as home and citizenship above, and toward the city whose Builder and Maker is God.
One God Alone
God alone is God, and He is the only safe trust, infinite in power and all-sufficient to save everyone who comes to Him. He has power to save all who turn to Him, and there is no other safe and certain help apart from Him. Work for Him cannot be done in human strength or by human merit, but only by continual, trustful dependence on Christ, and such dependence makes victory over difficulties and perplexities not only possible but certain. That dependence gives full assurance in Christ as Leader even when multitudes press on in the wrong way and the outlook is discouraging, calling for trust in Him when circumstances look discouraging.
He is the unique Creator whose power and care are remembered through the Sabbath, which stands as a sign that He is Lord and God of His people. The Sabbath keeps in memory that the Creator who alone is God is the source of salvation for all people everywhere. Nature reveals His creative power, and the word that created all things gives life and strength to the soul.
The call to look to Him teaches His people to seek wisdom from Him rather than rely on finite, dependent human beings. Salvation in Him includes being justified in the Lord and finding righteousness and strength in Him, so that those who come to Him may glory while those opposed to Him will be ashamed. Looking to Him, applied to Christ as the Light, means depending on Him and not on human beings for strength, guidance, wisdom, power, and spiritual life. It means placing whole trust in Him as a safe refuge rather than on one's own wisdom, relying on Him for help and guidance as the source of spiritual light and life.
The human agent must not limit the Holy One of Israel by judging character as fixed by birth or by head-reading. Though the destroyer has nearly obliterated God's image in man, Christ is the Restorer, and all who connect with God by looking to Him will have His moral image restored in them. Hereditary peculiarities and deficiencies of character can be overcome through faith and the imputed righteousness of Christ, which is the new birth, so no one is bound to follow a course shaped by phrenology or by human counsel contrary to God's counsel.
The verse calls creatures to turn attention from confusion and perplexity around them to look to God and admire His handiwork. The heavenly bodies and the wonderful things His hand has made are worthy of contemplation, made for the benefit of man, and teach His love, care, and power. Looking at them makes the proud, foolish heart feel its dependence and inferiority and gives a sense of His condescension. As men study His works, angels are by their side to enlighten their minds and guard them from deception, in order to learn to love and reverence and obey Him.
Universal Call to Salvation
The invitation of mercy is unlimited and extends to all the earth. It stands in harmony with the purpose that His house be a place of prayer for all peoples, where He sits enthroned giving audience to the world, so that all people praise Him and the whole earth is filled with His glory. It is to be carried forth now to all places of the earth as never before.
The ends of the earth means heathen lands, every nation, and the most distant lands. Workers are to carry the gospel across the world and teach people in their own languages, so that the light of Christ may reach every part. As the Word enlightens people to see Jesus as the gift and living Saviour whose life was given as a sacrifice for the world, barriers that make customs seem difficult to reach can change.
His invitation is open and not spoken in secret or in darkness. He never asks anyone to seek Him in vain, for He speaks righteousness and declares what is right. No soul who trusts in Jesus is ever left to perish. The call is universal and is a call to repentance. It is open now in the day of salvation through the Spirit's invitation, calling each person to come to Jesus and choose eternal life.
No one need remain on the side of those under wrath. The sinner is urged to come with the whole heart, repent, confess sin to God, forsake iniquity, and then claim and appropriate all God's promises as his own. The verse calls the church to her appointed work so the way may be prepared for His everlasting kingdom. She is to arise and shine because her light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon her while darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people, with Gentiles coming to her light and kings to the brightness of her rising, sons and daughters gathered from far, strangers building her walls, and gates open continually day and night to bring in the forces of the Gentiles and their kings in mercy.
Salvation is offered to all and comes by looking to Christ in faith. The sacrificial service was to lift Him up before the nations so that all who looked to Him might live. Israel was meant to reveal God's character and carry this invitation to the whole world, joining the call to seek God with the church's work of carrying that message to every nation and people. Christ's death was not for the Jewish nation only but for the whole world to the ends of the earth.
His dying outside the camp where felons and murderers were executed shows He suffered the sinner's penalty for everyone and gave His life for all kindreds, tongues, and people. The inscription above the cross, placed by the hand of the Lord and written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, publishes that call to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people to the ends of the earth. As those who looked at the raised serpent were healed, those who look to Christ lifted up as the sin-bearer are offered salvation. His crucifixion at a gathering attended by representatives from many nations helped make this message known to the remotest regions.
Looking in Faith to Christ
To look to God for salvation is to look to His Son, whose life was given as a sacrifice for the world, and He is to be received as the gift and living Saviour. As the Word enlightens people to see Jesus, barriers that make customs seem difficult to reach can change. The One to be looked to draws with the matchless attractions of the Son of God, God made known in human flesh, the mystery hidden for ages, and accepting or rejecting Him as Saviour of the world decides eternal interests. The call to look and live is set forth by Christ lifted up as the sin-bearer like the raised serpent, for as Israelites had to look at the lifted serpent to live, sinners must look to Christ lifted on the cross. Sin's deadly effects can be removed only through Him, and while the serpent had no power of its own, Christ has power to heal the repentant sinner. Israel's sacrifices likewise had no saving power in themselves but were types pointing to Christ the great Sin-Offering, to be offered with penitent hearts and faith in His atoning sacrifice, and His crucifixion before representatives from many nations helped make this healing, life-giving message of hope, courage, faith, pardon and life known to the remotest regions for all bitten by the old serpent the devil.
Looking saves because He has borne human iniquities and by the stripes laid on Him healing is provided. Jesus is the sin-pardoning Saviour whose sacrifice and blood are the source of forgiveness, true satisfaction and joy, who died in the sinner's place and gives life to the transgressor. Looking means relying on His strength, through which peace is made with God and the soul's faculties are awakened to new life and energy. It means seeking nearness to Him above every other person in love, faith and perfect trust, resting safely in His wisdom and strength as a child rests in a father's, turning the eye of faith away from self to Jesus the sin-bearer who died to make pardon possible.
Looking to Christ strengthens and uplifts, drives away gloom and darkness, gives the light of life and joy through assurance of His love, and by beholding Him a person is changed into His image and likeness, shares His spirit, and has His righteousness cover human unworthiness. No one who truly looks remains in darkness, for following Him brings the light of life and points discouraged people to Him who heals both body and soul. Turning the face toward Jesus the Sun of Righteousness brings health and light from His countenance, with rays of life and light beaming from Him. Looking is done by talking of Jesus, dwelling on His matchless charms, eating the bread of life, taking the water of life freely, keeping the heart in meditation on His spotless character of compassion and love, renouncing all selfishness, and taking in the sacrifice of Calvary until the height and depth and length and breadth of the love of God is comprehended.
The sinner must fix the eyes on Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away sin, as the Way, the Truth and the Life, and by faith carry the mind within the veil to view Him as Intercessor before the mercy seat instead of deploring sinfulness. This brings God's power, satisfies the soul's hunger, gives faith, hope and courage, opens the soul to receive truth, sanctifies by transforming influence, removes fear and condemnation, breaks down barriers by His sacrificial love, creates love for God's commandments and gratitude, and wins the heart to repentance. It is a theme simple enough for children yet holding unfathomable depths of wisdom, love and power, to be preached again and again, with the mind refusing to stay upon self or be ensnared by the enemy's devices. He is not reluctant to save but bends over the purchase of His blood with tenderness, pity and love, understanding weakness and accepting repentance from broken, contrite hearts. The call is for immediate full trust without waiting for better opportunities, yielding wholly, feeling hopelessly lost without Him, taking hold of His strength to make peace, and pleading great need as the argument for help, for He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit than parents to give good gifts, bringing into light, guiding into truth, and clothing with the beauty of holiness leading to loving obedience rather than self-exaltation. The look that saves brings unsearchable riches and eternal glory, sanctifying, refining and ennobling by daily partaking of the divine nature and escaping worldly corruption, and everyone who truly looks then carries a burden in simplicity, meekness and love to save perishing souls within reach.
Forgiveness Strength and Deliverance
Those who turn to Him receive salvation, and with it righteousness and strength, for in the Lord alone the ends of the earth are justified and have reason to glory. Trusting Him brings salvation with forgiveness, peace and comfort, and grace is given to everyone who looks. His Son has been given to bear the sins of those who seek truth and righteousness.
This salvation was made possible because Christ lived and died as a man and rose again to be Lord both of the dead and the living. By being executed in man's stead He purchased human life, so that believers can attain immortality and cannot lose eternal life if they believe on Him.
Work for God cannot be done in human strength or by human merit, but only by continual trustful dependence on Christ. Such dependence makes victory over difficulties and perplexities not only possible but certain, giving full assurance in Christ as Leader even when multitudes press on in the wrong way and the outlook is discouraging. Looking unites divine power to human weakness, so that with God's blessing and by Christ's strength and grace the weak and tempted can wrestle against temptation for themselves, gain ascendency over perverted appetite and debasing passion, and stand victorious in God-given manhood. Every soul who looks in faith to Christ will conquer Satan's temptations, for even the oldest and most experienced Christians are assailed yet gain victory through trust in Jesus, and the same conquest is open to all who look in faith.
The call is an invitation to abandon hope in self and flee to God the sure foundation before ruin comes. Trusting in self is building on sand that will end in ruin when the tempest breaks, while turning to God and resting hope on Him is fleeing to the sure foundation where escape from impending destruction is still possible now.
Looking to the Saviour means trusting and believing in Jesus rather than dwelling on personal weakness or keeping the mind upon self, which weakens moral power. Casting the helpless soul on Christ brings joy and peace, and turning attention from self to Jesus to live brings wonderful healing of soul and body, for He is found to be a present help in every time of need. This beholding means viewing Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, putting away every vestige of Satan's attributes and refusing to let the mind be ensnared by the enemy's devices.
The invitation gives hope to sinners, including the sick and those newly awakened to their need, who find refuge, life, rest and salvation in Jesus through faith and acceptance of His promises. Looking to Jesus to save from sin and give eternal life changes beholders into His likeness, and pointing discouraged people toward Christ who heals both body and soul carries out this call. It is to be told to the sick and to the once indifferent one whose awakened conscience cries for mercy and to be made a child of God, assuring him that hope remains in Jesus, and those who present this hope of the gospel to afflicted souls in meekness and love speak for the One who gave Himself for all mankind to become a tender, sympathetic, compassionate Healer of soul as well as body. Devising every means to bring this saving of souls about is the work for which medical institutions exist.
This deliverance also invites those who have handled God's work without a living connection with Him, seeking gain for His cause by oppressive dealing and denying others their just rights, to abandon their evil ways and seek Him who alone is a just God and Saviour.
Proclaiming and Living the Call
The invitation belongs to every nation and is to be proclaimed throughout the world, for it calls all people and all the nations to turn to the living God and receive salvation because He alone is God. It is unlimited in scope, and those who are convicted and converted answer with humility and unreserved consecration to Him. To this belongs the assurance that every knee will bow to God and every tongue will swear allegiance to Him.
Greater appreciation of the covenant promises and encouragement concerning what God has done and will do for those who follow on to know Him should produce more missionary work and more missionary spirit in the churches. That mercy is unlimited, calling all the ends of the earth to look to Him and be saved, and it requires going forth to all places of the earth with this invitation now as never before. This going forth stands in perfect harmony with His plan for His temple to be a house of prayer for all people, where He sits enthroned giving audience to the world, so that all people praise Him, the whole earth is filled with His glory, and His name is glorified even in the highways and the hedges.
Responding to His mercy means trusting in the Lord, being comforted in His love, and praising Him because His anger is turned away. His invitation is open and not spoken in secret or darkness, and He never asks anyone to seek Him in vain, for He speaks righteousness and declares what is right. No soul who trusts in Jesus is ever left to perish.
The call sounds from His throne above and teaches what it means to believe, to be believing and not faithless, and to be filled with faith and hope rather than low, desponding talk. It forbids exalting self and also depreciating self, since believers are the Lord's property, and it requires glorifying Him by offering praise, speaking His praises, and talking faith with joy in the King instead of praising self. The saving look means fleeing for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us and trusting Jesus as the living Advocate with the Father who saves to the uttermost all who come to God through Him. Those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious answer by trusting without fear, finding strength and song in the Lord Jehovah as their salvation, and helping others in the region and shadow of death to trust Him.
Looking to Christ is a privilege and duty, and those who look to Him can live by receiving His grace, loveliness, and sufficiency. Christ is their willing Teacher, and those who submit to Him and learn from Him find rest. Looking to Him includes praying for the Holy Spirit as the great need, with humble and earnest prayer. The verse calls for simple, confiding, increased faith in Jesus Christ at every step, because He is the Author and Finisher of faith and will never leave a helpless soul to perish in guilt and sin, but any such soul will live if he looks to Him. This looking faith lightens the burden and relieves the weariness of life by viewing the attractiveness of heaven, showing the need for Christ every hour.
It is a healing, life-giving message sounding now that gives hope, courage, faith, pardon, and life by pointing sinners to the Saviour lifted up on the shameful cross, where all who have been bitten by the old serpent the devil are called to look to Him and live. The call to look and live is an appeal to trust God and receive life, for people everywhere are saved by looking to God in faith because He alone is God. Looking to Christ means turning toward Him to receive life and light.