Jeremiah 8:4-12 (niv) - "Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: "'When men fall down, do they not get up? When a man turns away, does he not return? Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle. Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD. "'How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD ," when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have? Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. "Peace, peace," they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD.
There is a sense of immediateness to this scripture that these very words are speaking some light into a Christian profession of religion we sadly find ourselves in that is veiled within a shroud of darkness and confusion. Many times we hear the prophet say words that are impressed upon his mind and heart by visions or images given in parables of sort, but here the prophet Jeremiah is spoken to by the LORD and is given words to say in directness of speech not in man's interpretation but speaking the very words of God in fear and trembling.
Do we reverence these words as the Words of the very living God that we must one day bring account to every deed done in these bodies? These words spoken by the LORD who is spirit and whose words are of spirit and truth which bring divine revelation to our spirits. Let those who are unregenerate and spiritually discerned stumble over them but let the child of God listen with a sense of expectency that the LORD is speaking to our situation in which we find ourselves.
Why then have these people turned away? - You must ask yourself very pointedly have I turned away from God, have I ever gone through a duration of time in my life as a child of God that I did not redeem the time? Did I follow after a way contray to God's plan for my life? Did I ever neglect my quiet time with God? Did I ever willfully choose to sin while under the pressing conviction of a jealous God who inhabits you? Surely you must contend that you have turned away once, twice, possibly many times but as much as you have turned away you have returned, as the scripture says: 'When a man turns away, does he not return? By God's mercy he has restored you in a multiplicity of ways and your entire life exhibits the divine working of Gods forgiving grace in your experience of living in Christ. But surely you cannot keep on sinning against a grace which is abundantly extended to you again and again for it shall come a time when you will not return, your heavenly affections will be so calloused and the pleading of the Holy Spirit so muddled that you will be given into your sin, into your pleasures and wanton lusts, you will not return.
No one repents of his wickedness - Have you need of repentance? If you were to come into the presence of the Living God would you know of a surety that your walk was blameless? God in His mercy shows times of repentance and gives us ample warning and with strong crying, pleading His heart through the prophets and calls us back to Himself. But what happens to a people that hear the message of repentance and don't repent? Not only a message of repentance from a mere man in the conjecture of his mind, but a man speaking words of repentance as speaking the very words of God that are heavenly and from above. If I would ask you dear church 'are you wicked?' You would quickly retort 'no we are righteous in Christ' and you are right in your answer but shall you continue to do wickedly and act as though you are wicked being righteous in Christ? Shall we who are born from above act and behave as those who are accursed of God and enemies of God. Do you feel shameful of your condition that you know mares the Holy name of Christ and our being joined in union with Him. Repent of your acts of wickedness allow God who is Spirit search your heart and convict you of chaff in your heart that must be consumed and burnt away. For there will be a day in which you cannot repent of your wicked acts, there will be a time that God calls all things into judgement and you will stand before Him with all the Holy angels and you will give account.
But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD - Amongst many followers of Christ who are turning and returning constantly in a process of struggling with sin really don't know the requirements of God. There is a spiritual teaching and impartation of truth that the spirit of God gives regenerate men that allows them to overcome sin and glorify God. God is a Holy God who desires for a Holy people, and not only desires but has made the provisions through Christ that we are to be Holy. It is not a promise for you to be holy and filled with the Holy Spirit but it is a implicent command, 'Be ye Holy', 'Be filled with the Holy Spirit'. Did not Jesus said to Nicodemus 'you are the leader of Isreal yet you don't know these things?' So the cause of much wickedness and turning away is due to spiritual leaders teaching falsities or rather not teaching the full counsel of truth to a people. Pastors, Leaders who have been placed in leadership by Christ Himself, do you teach people the full requirements of God? Do you feel shame in bringing your people away from God and allowing them to practice all wickedness while mainting and calling on the name of Christ?
I leave it to you dear saint. Read and re-read that passage of scripture as the Words of the very God Himself. Hear the echo of divine truth throughout the ages that calls you to Himself and out of falsehood and deceit that we find ourselves in.
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