Ever since the fall of man, God’s heart has always been directed towards the restoration of His relationship with man and for man to be restored in their relationship with each other as well.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God is calling His people back to repentance from every form of idolatory, unrighteousness, dishonesty, as well as the ability of being skilled in evil doing. And, He promises them that, as they repent, the nations will pray to be as blessed as they are, vs 1,2,14,22.

However, if they don’t, then God’s anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against them which no one will be able to extinguish, 4! If they did not choose to repent wholeheartedly, then judgment would surely come upon them by means of foreigners from the North who would bring upon them great destruction, vs 5-8,11-21,23-31!

This would make even the king and his officials, as well as priest and prophet lose courage, be struck with horror and speechless in amazement, respectively, vs 9!

They were warned not to be deceived anymore by those who told them that they would still be safe and protected by God, inspite of their evil deeds, vs 10.

The only thing that God desired from them was that they break their rebellious wills and make a new beginning; and just as a farmer needed to clear away the thorns, by breaking up the hard unplowed ground, lest the seed is wasted, they needed to get rid of the sin that was ruining their lives too, vs 3. Could it be possible that just like them, we too, may be committing sins, and yet feel that we are doing nothing wrong?

That may, perhaps, be the case if we find our lives ridden with the judgment of God in ways that we are helpless and unable to overcome, or else if we find ourselves either worried and bothered about the cares and worries of this life or deceived by the deceitfulness of riches, such that we are unable to know and fulfill the calling in life and ministry that God has for us to accomplish before leaving this earth.

This being the case, then it is time for us to humble our pride and take radical steps to repent of our sin and settle issues with God and man, as may be necessary, so that the judgment of God may be averted, before it is too late, and the blessings of God can replace the same. Amen.

Rowena Thomas
Mumbai, India.