Out of all the covenants that you can make, none can ever be worse than signing your name to a contract with death and hell. While all of the covenants that we have discussed in previous devotionals have been between man and God so that they could live a life of sacrifice and obedience to the LORD while, at the same time, walking in His love and divine favor, this covenant in Isaiah 28 focuses on an agreement with the devil, one that is sure to backfire. When you compromise with your adversary, you will surely fall. John 8:44 says, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” The devil is a liar and a murderer, as he has always been, and he will surely take advantage of you to further his will and purpose as long as you let him. Refuse to trust your adversary, but trust the LORD!

In the main text, God was telling Judah that they felt so secure concerning judgment, meaning that they felt that they were untouchable in their sins, that it was as if they had made a covenant with death not to destroy them and hell not to swallow or devour them. This is a covenant death and hell can never keep, so why bargain with them? Since they had chosen lies and falsehood as their covering and protection, and since they would one day reject the precious corner stone, which prophetically speaks of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, their covenant with death and hell would be disannulled, or, in other words, cancelled, and God’s judgment would be poured onto them! While you can never trust the devil to keep his word, you can surely trust God’s!

Just as with Judah, some in the church today have signed a contract agreement with death and hell by compromising with sin. Since some have been going to church for such a long period of time and have been placed on such a high pedestal by others, they feel like they are untouchable in their sin. They choose lies as their refuge, and when I say lies I do not just mean say one thing and do another, claiming that they are a Christian while their lives are spotted with hypocrisy, but also by refraining from declaring the truth. By refusing to be watchmen unto this generation and sound the alarm of repentance, blood will be upon their hands! That is how the covenant is being signed! When ministers know the truth, but they choose not to preach it because they are afraid of a backlash of harassment or persecution, or even offending members of their own flock and congregation, then they have signed a treaty with death and hell. We must stand on the truth in both word and action because a covenant with God will prevail for eternity against an agreement with death and hell! Matthew 16:18-19 says, “18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” When the church is built and stands upon the Rock of Jesus Christ, no weapon that hell throws our way will be able to prosper! The gates of hell have to loose its hold when the name of Christ is mentioned. There is power in that name, that at His name, one day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is the Messiah! It is time we, bearing His name, storm the gates of hell for our lost loved ones and those in need, for Matthew 11:12 says, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” It is time we become violent against our adversary and proclaim the message of the love and power of Jesus Christ, one that breaks hell’s chains!

We are not called to let people slip into hell, but we are called to be spiritual firefighters! James 5:19-20 says, “19Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” By walking and declaring the truth and converting souls to Jesus Christ, we pull them out of eternal flames, saving their souls from eternal destruction. Of course, we are not the Savior, but we point them to the Savior because we labor for His glory and Kingdom! He is the One who forgives our sins and brings deliverance! We are to fight Hell’s flames in this generation, not make a covenant with it! Instead of making a covenant with death and hell, let us make a covenant with life and peace, to live for God the best we can. It is not about how close we can be to the world and still be a Christian, but it is about how close we can get to God and still be on this planet!