Jeremiah 3, 4
How long will we break the heart of God? We have forsaken Him and gone after our own interests. Patiently He waits, longing for us to come to our senses and return to Him, but we do not. If only we would, He would gladly hold off His judgments, He would gladly treat us as sons.
Call after call rings out in an attempt to save His people from the disaster that is about to befall them. He knows how terrible it will be. He hopes to not have to do it. It is really in our hands.
There is no way I can conclude from reading the book of Jeremiah, that God has declared His intent to send judgment. But due to the timeless nature of His word, there are some things I can conclude. We have forsaken Him as His people in Jeremiah’s time had. He hopes that we will return to Him and gives us opportunity to do so. We mistake His patience for His approval and see no need of repenting. Eventually His patience runs out.
Surely we are on the same path as His people from years ago. Though there is no way to know where along the path we are, we can learn from it that though at some point His patience will run out, for now He is giving us time; time to consider our ways in light of His ways; time to take advantage of His mercy and His willingness to pardon.
Mike,
I understand your reading of Jeremiah, but I’m a bit confused. Who is the “we” you are referring to? Unrepentant individuals? “Christians” who are religious without a real relationship? America? I have taken advantage of His mercy and His pardon, and I do my best to introduce His love to those I meet. I don’t sense I have forsaken Him nor do I fear His judgment. Therefore, could you clarify who “we” is?
Jim,
I appreciate your comment. The simple answer is a little bit of all. At least a little in the same spirit of Isaiah 53:6 when he said, ‘We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…’ All in light of a recent transformation, I have to admit that most of my Christian life is, in comparison, like having gone astray. So to that extent I include myself. At the same time, it is the weak church of which I am part of. Then to, the part of an ungodly America that feels its ungodliness is okay. I didn’t intend to emphasize the judgment side of things as much as the goodness we forfiet when our ways do not line up with His.
I read your recent post on Rom. 12:1,2. I’ve copied a line from it. ‘We first want to know what God’s will is for our life – and then we’ll decide if we’ll sacrifice our lives for it.’ I like that and would have to say that was me before my transformation. I wanted God to approve my good plan. Now I agree as you were saying, it is our duty to follow wherever He leads. I especially like Jesus’ reply to Peter when Peter asked Him about John; ‘What is that to you? You must follow Me.’
Hard to convey all in so few words. I hope this helps. I’ll keep an eye on your site.
Mike