October 6
Jer 6:16-8:7 | PS 78:1-31 | Prov 24:26 | Col 2:8-23
There are many lists in the Bible, some of good behaviors, others listing bad behaviors. When you look at these lists do you check all the bad behaviors that don't apply and all the good behaviors that do apply? The question begs the question of whether we read the Word and are convicted or whether we try to elevate ourselves beyond what we should. Jeremiah issues a warning to the people in Jeremiah 7:3-7, " This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “‘Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord’s Temple is here. They chant, “The Lord’s Temple is here! The Lord’s Temple is here!” But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever." They were living lives far apart from God, but felt since they had their Temple everything was safe. They were wrong just as the people were wrong when they believed victory would be theirs when Phinehas and Hophni (two of the priests) brought the Ark of the Covenant into the battle with the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4. They trusted in idols, as do we in our own nation. Idols don't have to be pieces of metal or wood, they are anything that takes precedence over the One True God, and idol worship is rampant in our nation and our world.
They were blind and deaf, as we are in our own nation. Though many are shouting for revival and that is certainly our desire, the overwhelming majority have absolutely no heart for God. We read in Jeremiah 8:4-7, "When the people fall down, don't they get up again? When they discover they're on the wrong road, don't they turn back? Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path? Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back? They cling tightly to their lies and will not turn around. I listen to their conversations and don't hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, "What a terrible thing I have done"? No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! Even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They all return at the proper time each year. But not my people! They do not know the Lord's laws.'"" God told Jeremiah in 7:27, "Tell them all this, but do not expect them to listen. Shout out your warnings, but do not expect them to respond."
We can elevate America all we want, pointing to past successes, past high moral examples, etc., but make no mistake about this we now live in an utterly pagan nation, and if you don't recognize this then you lack eyes to see and ears to hear. The number of voices screaming for your attention is deafening. We read in Colossians 2:8-9, "Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body." Please disregard the false teaching of moral relativism, that each of us get to decide what is right vs what is wrong. This is godless nonsense. God has put forth absolute truth, absolute right from absolute wrong. We need to be steadfast in our witness to a world that largely does not want to hear it, for if you are in Christ you know the truth, both for this earth and eternity, and the stakes are too serious to remain quiet. We read in Proverbs 24:26, "An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship". Saying the right thing is more often than not unpopular, but this is what we are called to do.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: