Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish

TEXT: ISAIAH 30:20-23 (NLT)

"Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, 'This is the way you should go,' whether to the right or to the left. Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, 'Good riddance!' Then the LORD will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock."

BAD RUBBISH

Sin is bad rubbish. It is not only bad rubbish, it is the filthiest rubbish there is. If our self righteousness is like filthy rags before God, then imagine how terrible sin must be before him (Isa 64:6). It is only by saying good riddance to the filthy rubbish of sin that we can find solace in God. Sin will not have dominion over you in Jesus name.

When a child of God rebels against him, adversity becomes food and suffering drink for such a fellow (Isa 30:21). God allows the rebel to pass through trying times like the prodigal son as Jesus narrated in Luke 15:11-32. Such trials occur to teach the rebel the path of repentance. Like a father pity his children, our father in heaven, despite our sins, still surrounds us with his agape love, drawing us with loving chastisement from the jaws of eternal damnation.

REPENTANCE FOR REBELLIOUS CHILDREN

When the prodigal son finally said good riddance to bad rubbish, his father welcomed him back with love and joy. God is waiting for you to repent and return back to him. Heaven erupts with joy over just one lost sheep that returns home (Luke 15:4-7). The love and mercy of God will restore as many that are lost back to the household of faith in Jesus name.

"'What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,' says the LORD. 'You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade'" (Isa 30:1-2). The world today is gripped by the desire to remove God from everything it does. Humanity is drifting to the abyss of independence from God. Money is now the golden idol people serve. Materialism is now the silver people run after.

It is however, noteworthy to observe that God still calls those who turn their backs on him "my rebellious children." (Isa 30:1).The rebels are rushing back to Egypt (sin), putting their trust in Pharaoh's protection (material possessions), hiding in his shade (Isa 30:2). For those who refuse to repent, the outcome will be utter humiliation and disgrace (Isa 30:3-5). The grass is not greener on the other side. It seems green, but when you step on it, it withers and sucks you into the dungeon of Satan.

GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH

"Egypt's promises are worthless" (Isa 30:7). Sin promises much but gives little in terms of fulfilment. Silver and gold are worthless at death. They will not speak for their owners at the appointed time of judgment. The only way to escape this ruin is to turn back to God and say good riddance to the bad rubbish of sin. God is speaking still, he is saying even now to someone reading this message: "...This is the way you should go,...” (Isa 30:21). As you listen and harken to his voice today, the Lord will lead you from the wrong path of life in Jesus name.

"Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, 'Good riddance!'” (Isa 30:22). It is time to turn back from sin and let God wash your filthy garment with the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7). Repentance leads to restoration and shower of blessings. "Then the LORD will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock." Repent today and say with me: Good riddance to the bad rubbish of sin.

PRAYER:

Father, let the showers of your blessings fall on me as I say good riddance to the bad rubbish of sin in Jesus name.

CONFESSION:

I say today: good riddance to the bad rubbish of sin.

God bless you. Shalom.