Sadly, many Christians became bitter when God does not answer their prayers. They grow weary of doing the right thing only to find it brings more trouble and difficulty. Reading the Word has lost its sweetness. They become bored and restless. Fellowship with the saints is neglected or altogether avoided. Going to church on Sunday is an optional activity depending on they feel that morning. Soon old temptations raises its ugly head.
Now, the world seems more attractive and desirable. Why stay in a place that is hard, difficult while waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled?
This describes the people left in the southern kingdom of Israel. They were warned by the Lord to stay in the land. Despite the devastation and enemies threatening them. If they were to stay, God promised to deliver His people and bless the land (Jeremiah 42:10-12). In the next few verses, God warns them not to go back to Egypt.
Some started to look to Egypt as the new Promised Land. "'No, we will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the trumpet or be hungry for bread,'" (verse 14).
How quickly we are deceived to think the world has something to offer us! Remember the painful rejection of those you admired but in their eyes you had little to give? Do recall the intense labor for approval saying and doing things that betrayed what you knew was right but instead crossed the line? Do you remember the nights you were so drunk that you feared dying alone in a gutter? Or some sexual disease over taking you for the immoral lifestyle that you chased in reckless abandonment? What about those who despised you for being a Christian. Do you think they will open their arms and take you back as if nothing ever happened?
Beloved, here is a solemn warning. The first time we were delivered was out of God's mercy from a world that almost destroyed us. There is no going back to Egypt. But if you do go back, it may not be the world that will destroy you, but the Lord's severity.
He will bring about the disaster of His choosing. It says, "Indeed, all who are determined to go to Egypt to settle there will die by the sword, famine and plague; not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them." (verse 17).
You may say that's Old Testament. We live under grace not the law. Yes, God is love and grace, but He will not share our lives with the world. He will drive out the worldliness in us as He deems best.
Beloved, we must be careful not to give into those moments of despair and hopeless to believe Egypt has to offer some freedom or relief. God is faithful to deliver us.
Will we be faithful to stay where He has placed us until He blesses us? Or will we run into the arms of the world to find God commanding a disaster to bring us back to our senses?
No comments:
Post a Comment