Topic: Fierce Judgment [Sunday October 11, 2015]
Text: Jeremiah 12:7-17
Key Verse: “I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies” (Jeremiah 12:7)
Frontline evangelist, Billy Graham, many years ago, was arrested for over-speeding. When he was charged to court, he pleaded guilty. The judge, though friendly, embarrassed him for being in his court and fined him ten dollars. Graham noted that if the judge had let him go free, it would have been inconsistent with justice; he had to pay the penalty.” The Israelites, according to our text, attracted the wrath of God upon themselves.
They worked against God, blasphemed His name, opposed His authority, became defiant and cried out against Him as a lion in the forest. God’s pastors, who were supposed to take care of the people, became uncultured, ravenous and ungovernable. Therefore, God refused to associate with them and His temple there because they had polluted it. He marked them out for ruin and utter desolation. He equally promised to judge other nations, who had robbed His people of what He had given them. Many of these neighbouring people, He stated, would go into captivity. Among these nations were Egyptians, Assyrians, Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Arameans and Babylonians.
God would only have compassion on them and bring them back at the end of their captivity, if they repented of their sins, put their trust in Him and worshipped Him. But if they did not repent, He would destroy them again. God is also warning sinners and backsliders to repent and trust in Him to avoid a similar fate. The repercussion of sinful lifestyle is severe. As He pronounced punishments on Judah and other nations who contravened His commandment, so also He has prepared the lake of fire for unrepentant sinners. The only escape route is total repentance from sin and acceptance of Christ as Lord and personal Saviour.
Thought for the day: God’s judgment is without partiality; He never overlooks sin
Bible Reading in one Year: Luke 22
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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