“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh– Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart” (Jer 9:25-26).
The Prophets were messengers of God who delivered some of the most profound & theologically rich revelations found anywhere in the Bible. Yet, for all their amazing contributions to divine truth, they were often sent in the worst of circumstances, when things were really going wrong in the world, especially w/Israel. If you know anything about Israelite history it’s that they were not all that faithful to God. Sure, they had a few bright moments here & there, but by & large they acted totally unbecoming of what God desired them to be. They were to “be holy” (Lev 20:26), yet they were adulterers (1 Chron 5:25 & Isa 1:21). They were to be “distinct” (Exod 33:16), yet they were just like every other nation around them (2 Kings 17:15).
What a sad reality to ponder, that God’s chosen people, called to be set apart & righteous (see 1 Pet 2:9), chose instead to blend in & be wicked. It happened to Israel, yes, but let us not think it cannot happen to us too!
Brethren, I am no stranger to sin, to allowing myself to think, say & do things I know God would be displeased with, so this isn’t finger pointing. But I look around & I see much that needs to change, for me & for you. Are we as devoted & as spiritually mature as we should be? Or . . . are we just coasting along & blending right in w/the world? When non-Christians look at us, what do they see; do we look just like them? More importantly, when God looks upon us, what does He see; do we look just like the world?! Answer honestly & ponder:
“Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Deut 8:20).
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 7:21).
