“Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22, NKJV)

Certain verses in the Bible stand out as being foundational. I think of Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NKJV)

Isaiah 45:22 is another foundational verse. It clearly points us to the way of salvation. You see, salvation is not a set of rules, a church membership, or an ideology. Salvation is a person, and His name is Jesus. Even His name means “Yahweh saves.” By looking to Him in faith, we can be assured that we are justified and forgiven of our sins. God has placed salvation within the reach of anyone.

C.H. Spurgeon, known as the prince of preachers, credits this verse to his own salvation. When he was a youth, a tremendous snowstorm prevented him from going to his church. So he attended a little church he found on the way. The pastor had been unable to make it to the church, so a layman got up and said a few words. He chose this verse as his text and said, “Look to God and be saved.” He repeated this several times and then began pounding the pulpit. Finally, he looked at the young Spurgeon at the back of the church who had a miserable look on his face. The man said to him, “You look to Jesus, and you will be saved.” Spurgeon did what the man suggested, and his life was changed.

As Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the desert so that whoever looked on it would be healed, so Jesus said that He would be lifted up. Whoever looks upon Him in faith is healed from sin and saved from condemnation. As we continue to look at Him, we are conformed into His image.

Let us gaze intently into the face of Jesus today and find forgiveness, peace, guidance and comfort.