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Past and Present Growling Bears
Did you know the Bible speaks about people growling and acting like bears?
It has gone on for a long time with those who are unsaved. Past and present — we will both read in the Bible of those who behaved like those bears long ago and more than likely, you also know of people today who are “bears” to work with, live with, or be neighbors with. Hence, those growling bears are well known throughout time.
Isaiah 59:11-12 NKJV We all growl like bears,
And moan sadly like doves;
We look for justice, but there is none;
For salvation, but it is far from us.
12 For our transgressions are multiplied before You,
And our sins testify against us;
For our transgressions are with us,
And as for our iniquities, we know them:
I love the way verse 11 begins in this passage. “We all growl like bears.” Growling bears are pretty formidable creatures. They get our attention and evoke fear in us.
Do you know people, deep in their sins and far from God, who seem to growl about everything?
Have you ever been such a person? Are you such a bear now?
Once one is saved, he is less like a growling bear and more God-like. There is a great difference between being with and without salvation.
Chapter 59 of Isaiah speaks about those whose unconfessed sins separate them from God. God has provided a way through Jesus to give us salvation by dying for our sins. Our part is to repent from those sins and ask God to forgive us through our belief in Jesus. Repent means to turn away from and not to repeat those sins. We should desire to begin a new path and not return to those sinful ways of living. We turn away from our sins to obey and follow Jesus. Have you done this?
Life changes drastically when we are saved.
Please read all of chapters 59-61 and see how dismal it is for those before salvation, who are deep in the clutches of sin, and the joy of those who are experiencing salvation.
Also, they moan, justice is not there for them, salvation is far from them, and their sins are multiplied and testify against them.
Furthermore, they are painfully aware of their iniquities.
The beautiful news is that salvation is close when we confess to God through Christ.
In Chapter 61, we see the incredible difference seen in the one who is saved. Read verse 10:
Isaiah 61:10 NKJV I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
There is so much rejoicing in the Lord!
Therefore, we see the difference between one being with and without salvation.
Lastly, the soul of the forgiven is joyful in God Who has given him salvation, covering him with righteousness, like a fine robe. As a bridegroom or bride decked with finery for the best day of their lives, there is joy in the garments of salvation now upon the one who has been forgiven and saved through Christ.
There is only rejoicing.
There is no growling unforgiven “bear” to deal with any longer.
Praise God!
Similarly, those days can be gone for good for you as well!