In Isaiah 1, after God slammed the Israelites for their insincere worship, God told them what He REALLY wanted: repentance.
Isaiah 1:16-20
16 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.
18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.
19 "If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;
20 "But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword." Truly, the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Those who put every bit of the work of salvation on God seem to ignore these passages where God obviously places the responsibility on humans to TURN from their sin and DO GOOD! God laid out two choices for these Israelites.
Option 1: They could turn to Him with their whole heart, and God would forgive their sins. God gave them a beautiful picture of cleansing; though their sins were red they would be white upon their repentance and God's forgiveness. Upon their obedience God would feed them with the best of the land! God's forgiveness is so complete, there is not a single sin which is left to haunt us!
Option 2: They could refuse God's mercy and continue in rebellion, and God would send oppressors against them. This was ultimately the choice the Israelites made. It's hard to imagine why anyone would take this road, but it has to be from a lack of faith. They didn't REALLY believe things would get that bad. They didn't really believe God would abandon them. They didn't really believe God would do what He said!
I like option 1, personally. In order to choose that option, I must live by faith. I must know God means business when He gives me options. I must understand my own choice determines my final destination - God left it up to me to make the choice!
I hope we all make the right choice today.
God bless,
Nathan