Wicked Scoundrels

Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts; let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:6-9)

There’s a lot of wishful thinking in this reading from Isaiah.  Scoundrels are very unlikely to forsake their ways.  Being a scoundrel is baked-in.  According to the dictionary, a scoundrel is a “dishonest or unscrupulous person; a rogue. A scoundrel sets a bad example for the other young men.”  Do we know any scoundrels?  I suspect we do, and we need to call them out for what they are and the damage they do.  

One would hope they will turn to God for mercy and forgiveness.  Perhaps they will as they near death, but beforehand?  We hope they will. Wickedness is a toxin that poisons them and their victims be it caused by injustice, racist behavior, or lying and dishonesty.  

All of our thoughts and ways should be as high as the heavens are above the earth.  At least we should try.  Then again, as Yoda has said, “Do or do not.  There is no try.”   

Deacon David Pierce