Being God's Messenger

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

I am really enjoying my study of Jeremiah Part 2 with Kay Arthur on Precepts for Life. I love to study the Old Testament prophets - you can clearly see God's sovereignty at work.

In Jeremiah 26, God tells Jeremiah to go to the people and speak ALL the words God commands. Verse 2 says, "Do not omit a word." God's message to the people wasn't rich blessings and perfect lives. It was a message of destruction if the people didn't repent and do what they had been told by God.

I was reminded of a debate I saw on Facebook. Someone on my friend's list made a simple statement that God doesn't "promise" second chances. People who commented got all upset and said that was a judgemental God and they didn't want to believe in that type of God. I can see that so much in today's culture. It is very unpopular to speak about a God who pronounces judgement. That is why I am glad that we as a family have moved away from the whole seeker church movement. God commands Jeremiah, Do not omit a word. But today, that seems fairly common - lets omit the judgement stuff and just be about a God of your best life now ( I know I dog Joel Osteen a lot but he is a real problem)!

Kay Arthur says she believes that God may have written Icabod over America. What does that mean? In 1 Samuel 4, God allows the Philistines to take the Ark of the Covenant out of the Tabernacle and defeat the Israelites. When Eli's daughter in law gave birth following the death of Eli and her own husband, she named the boy Icabod because "the glory has departed from Israel, the ark of God was taken." In other words, America has given so much into the immorality and turned from the Christian heritage and roots that God may possibly have written "Icabod" over us. And it isn't just non Christians. There are churches who have given into that as well. From "omitting words" to allowing gays to preach, to women preachers, prosperity teachings, false teaching, emergent and new age philosophy and relativism - some churches are lending to the downfall of America.

I say all this to say that being God's messenger isn't easy. Especially today. No one wants to hear the message that judgement is coming. But it is. God is going to judge in a righteous way that only a Holy God can do. Despite being an unpopular teaching, we have to speak the truth. Yes God loves and it is because of His love he has to judge. Our nation better wake up quick or I fear dark days are going to be upon us.

Jeremiah is so powerful and even though it is about the coming captivity of Israel - it is applicable today.