Lesson 337: "Current Events?"
It is with a broken heart that I give this report about a man whose wife if unfaithful but he diligently seeks her out and brings her back. His compassion and love for her is immeasurable. Like this wayward wife the people of God have become rebellious and have fallen into apostasy and fornication. However, the love of God is unconditional, eternal and transforming and He loves His children enough to chasten them for committed sins. God hates physical and spiritual adultery and His concern for their entire being brings heartbreak when mankind rejects His love. I use this example as a catalyst to send words of warning, that unless the people repent quickly and completely, enemy armies will devour their land. The Day of the Lord is coming and without repentance, judgment will be harsh, thorough and certain.
Our nation experiences external prosperity and power but internally the nation is corrupt to the core. Our country is filled with idolatry, greed, corrupted leadership and oppression of the poor. God is eternally righteous and demands that we be satisfied with nothing less than His righteousness in our lives. The cost of all these sins against God is expensive and He will hold those to whom more has been given accountable for more. The sins of pride can be overlooked no longer. The only kind of pride which is good and which will cause man to treat man with compassion and love is that which is placed in the Lord. God will overcome on our behalf if we stay true to Him and be willing to help others in times of need. Self-pride will cause one to run from God but we can never successfully hide from God.
I inform the country about corrupt rulers, false teachers, cheating merchants and ungodly “men of God”. God gives warnings so we will not have to suffer His wrath but no one is heeding these warnings and will most assuredly face God’s discipline and possibly judgment. The people have become brutal, cruel, defiant and immoral and are judging others right and left. God’s promises are sure, whether for blessing or for punishment and vengeance is a right reserved for God alone. Apostasy, bribery and oppression enter into each life and we must find a new understanding and insight into the very nature of God. He is good, fair and wise and man’s responsibility is to confidently place faith in Him. No matter what our circumstances may be we can still trust the Lord and praise His Holy Name.. A life lived by faith will also be a life full of God’s joy.
God’s vengeance and holiness will lead Him to seek retribution and ALL will be judged for their sins in the coming Day of the Lord. God is not prejudiced but hates sin and loves obedience universally. He wants us to have pure hearts not an outward show of piety so that on that Day we will be genuinely repentant before Him. I exhort people to get excited and committed to the work of the Lord which seems to have ceased. The best way to get a glimpse of what we have lost in our lives is to get a vision of blessings that God gives to those who put God first. Let the Lord’s presence guide the leadership of the people in order for the project (the work of the Lord) to be completed. A job half done is a job not done at all. Avoid compromise and never settle for good when with God we can have the very best. People have not learned from past sins and the sins of apathy of the people are rebuked. Mankind has made very little progress spiritually through the years and God’s plan includes all of history. People “owe” God their talent, praises, offerings and their very being so we must begin again to prepare our hearts to give our all and count it a privilege and not a “drudge”!
Final note: These “current events” happened around 2500 years ago and were taken from the writings of the Minor Prophets, from Hosea to Malachi. Pretty scary to think that not much has changed in our world since then. We may have only today to get things right with God and we may not even have that much time. No man knows when He will return but return He will! Clean up your act! Keep your robes washed (Rev.. 22:14)!