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"For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him. . ." Numbers 23:9 THE MOUNTAIN MESSENGERApril 2006 Volume 3..........................Number 3 Crum, West Virginia "REPENT . . . GOD LOVES YOU!"By James E. Farley ". . . the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance . . ."(Romans 2:4) "The Lord . . . is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men . . ." (2 Corinthians 5:10-11) In the poignant and moving book we call "Jeremiah," God, through the prophet, calls his people to attention . . . calling on them to look at themselves and see their error . . . calling upon them to REPENT and turn back to Him. He uses some very pointed and interesting figures and images to describe their backslidden condition. Let’s notice some of them . . . God, through Jeremiah, says, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:13). There are many "religious folks" today who are doing the same thing. They are content to be ignorant of God’s righteousness (right ways) and go about to establish their own ways, and then they will try to justify those ways as "right". (Compare Romans 10:1-3) "Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?" (Jeremiah 2:21; Compare this with Luke 8:11 and Matthew 15:13 in the New Testament). If people today would be content to just plant God’s "seed" (Luke 8:11), and be satisfied with God’s "plants," religious division would cease. (Matthew 15:13). "Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number." (Jeremiah 2:32). As we look about us today we see people who have certainly forgotten what they knew about God, and they turn to fables. (Compare 2 Timothy 4:1-4). Do you want to know what a people who have forgotten God looks like . . . look at America! "The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? She is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot." (Jeremiah 3:6; Compare James 4:4). "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion . . . " (Jeremiah 3:14). But . . . they would not turn . . . they would not repent! As a loving husband might beseech a wayward wife to come home, God called upon them to come home. They were just too satisfied with the ways of the world, just as many today are. "Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord." (Jeremiah 3:20). "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it." (Jeremiah 5:1). Sadly Jeremiah could not find a just man! What an atrocious people! "A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof." (Jeremiah 5:30-31; Compare Matthew 7:15-20; I John 4:1; 2 John 9-11; etc.) What a terrible picture of a fallen people! Jeremiah warns and warns . . . He attempts to encourage and persuade them by stating that God will forgive and restore IF they will only turn again unto Him. When it became clear that they would not repent, Jeremiah said to them . . . Get ready for Babylon! God had chosen a "minister" to do His work . . . Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Chaldeans . . . the Babylonians. (Jeremiah 22:25; 34:20-22). What a horrible situation for the people! It did not have to be so, for the Lord, through the prophet, warned them and warned them. But . . . they would not hear the warnings of love, they would not heed the pleadings of care and concern, and they did indeed go into Babylonian captivity for 70 years! In fact, they saw Jeremiah’s messages from God, not as caring and loving, but as meddling, interfering and intrusive . . . and even mean-spirited. Well, they certainly reaped what they sowed. Back To The Top Of The Page |
Jeremiah chapter six is a powerful passage of counsel and admonition . . . of warning and caution, but the people of Jeremiah’s day would not heed. The passage (Jeremiah 6:10-19) reveals that the people stopped heeding God’s Word. In fact, it says that the Word became a reproach to them and they had no delight in it. (Verse 10). Imagine that! God wants a people who hunger and thirst after righteousness, and His Word . . . His commandments are righteousness. (Matthew 5:6; Psalm 119:172). We are instructed in righteousness through the verbally inspired Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). His Word is called, . . . the word of righteousness," for it teaches us how to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. (Hebrews 5:13; Titus 2:11-12). The only way people have ever known how to be right (or righteous) in God’s sight is through the Word of God. The people of Jeremiah’s day rejected the only standard of right and wrong, and had no delight in it. It was a reproach to them, for you see . . . they wanted to do what they wanted to do! (Judges 17:6). It has ever been so, and is true today. When people want to do what they want to do, they will certainly reject God’s Word. His Word is light. (Psalm 119:104-105). Those who have evil deeds hate the light, and will not come to the light because of their evil ways. (John 3:18-21). The people of Jeremiah’s day were the exact opposite of what is described for us at Psalm chapter one. Read that now When people leave God’s Will, they will typically become overly obsessed with THINGS . . . they become covetous. This is precisely what happened in Jeremiah’s time. (Jeremiah 6:13). Jesus Christ warns us today about covetousness. He said, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Luke 12:15). The apostle Paul warns us as well. He said that some suppose that "gain is godliness" and warned Timothy to withdraw himself from those who teach this. (I Timothy 6:5). He taught that we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we will carry nothing out. He continued warning the young preacher that a willingness to be rich will cause one to "fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." (I Timothy 6:9). And then there is the well known verse, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (vs. 10). The Bible never condemns riches per se . . . but there is always a stern warning attached when it speaks of being rich. BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS!!! Then the people of Jeremiah’s time lied to themselves. They said, " . . . peace, peace; when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14). It is the old "I’m ok . . . you’re ok" routine. The problem with that philosophy is that I’m not ok and you’re not either! (Romans 3:23). When people will not admit their sin, and then try to justify themselves by themselves . . . they will NOT REPENT! We live in a time when it seems sin no longer exists . . . Now, it is just "mistakes" that people make, and even then they will not take blame for their mistakes, but play the victim . . . It’s always somebody else’s fault that they are like they are! Shame! Furthermore, the folks of Jeremiah’s day had even gotten to the point where they were not ashamed of their sin, and had even forgotten how to blush. What a terrible state of being. (Jeremiah 6:15). Sin can do this, you know? It is deceitful and has a hardening effect if left alone. (Read Hebrews 3:13). We are living in a time when people have become so carnal and ungodly, and they are not at all ashamed of their ways. They have allowed sin to deceive and harden their hearts. Homosexuals are openly flaunting their abomination before all to see . . . in public, on TV, in the movies, etc. Most everyone indulges in alcoholic beverages these days, and it is not looked upon as anything "really bad." Many women think nothing of walking about half and three quarters naked when the Summer months come along. Listen to the wise man, "As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion." (Proverbs 11:22). Yes, we are living in a time much like that of Jeremiah’s day! People have indeed forgotten how to blush! Actually, people of all ages are about the same . . . We are not witnessing anything new here in the 21st Century! God gave these folks a chance to repent . . . He offered them hope, but they rejected it. "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken." (Jeremiah 6:16-17). Again, people in the 21st Century, for the most part, are the same as the people of Jeremiah’s day . . . Neither will people of today repent! They would rather do what they want to do. Still, we believe there are some honest and good people who will indeed turn to God. What was the result of their rejecting the Lord? We can read it in Jeremiah 6:18-19. Go ahead . . . read it for yourself . . . Open up your Bible, right now, and see the end of those who will reject God’s Word. Now, these things were written for our learning and for our example. (Romans 15:4; Compare I Corinthians 10:6, 11). THE BIBLE IS RIGHT!!! So we say to you beloved reader . . . REPENT! (Luke 13:3, 5). Let us know how we may be a help to you with these most important matters. Contact us . . . James E. Farley -To Contact Jim by email, click here P.O. Box 285 Crum, West Virginia 25669 The Mountain Messenger Index Page To view other articles by Jim Farley, Click here! To View the CRUM CHURCH OF CHRIST Web Site, Click here |
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