Like Jeremiah
Betty
When the Lord called me, He told me to read Jeremiah. He said I would be like him. So, I read it and still do read it from time to time. It wasn’t a book I had read before. So, I knew little about it when this began.
Jeremiah was called to speak to a people who would not listen. They considered themselves God’s chosen people and did not believe God would come against them. So, Jeremiah’s warnings fell on deaf ears until it was too late. They would not allow his correct message to penetrate their perceived standing before God.
God was very angry with them, but they could not see it. He
caused them to be under siege until they became cannibals, starving to death
within the city walls. Then He allowed them to be overcome. Many died horrible
deaths. Those that lived were taken into captivity. Most were forced to a
foreign land.
Here’s the thing. The Israelites of Jeremiah’s day
worshiped other Gods, sacrificed their children to Molech, and perverted God’s
word to suit them. The church was openly involved with all these issues, with
the church leaders assuring the flock that God was not going to punish them for
these infractions. Again, they believed this because they considered themselves
God’s chosen people.
We love our wealth so much that we have put it ahead of God
in our concerns. We vote our wallet. Moral issues are trampled on the path of
prosperity. Abortion has taken our children. And we pervert the Scriptures by
denying its intent.
The overall purpose of Scripture is to draw us back to God.
It is meant to convict us of our sin, open our eyes to His will, and turn our
hearts to Him. When we deny what it tells us, we pervert it. The Scriptures are
very clear on the shedding of innocent blood. Even if we do not personally take
life, we are considered guilty if we do not take action. We have looked away
while the children were killed under our very noses. Therefore, we are guilty.
Whether we feel guilty or not is irrelevant. We are because He says we are.
God does not change. He punished His chosen people, ancient Israel,
even though they did not recognize their sins as sin. Do not be deceived. He
will punish us, too. Even now the back of His hand is at our door. Therefore,
let us not stand on perception, but entreat Him to open our eyes and hearts
that we might see and repent.
I pray His mercy cause this word to produce fruit to His
glory.
In Him,
Betty