The 3:16's of the Bible: Another Start

Some time ago, I called a credit card company multiple times regarding an unexplained charge on my credit card bill.  I left several messages, and when I finally got through to a human being, I could not understand the service agent due to his heavy foreign accent.  Although I asked him several times to repeat himself, I still could not understand what he said.  In disgust, I told the individual, "Thank you for your time," and hung up the phone.  I eventually paid the charge, which, although just a few dollars, was a major aggravation on my part.  I was angry that I had been charged with something I had not purchased and enraged that the card company's service department was so poor I could not take care of the charge properly. Instead, I paid it just to get on with my life!

 

Have you ever felt that way?  You try to contact an individual or company, but you cannot get through.  We are all familiar with that frustration! 

 

So, too, must be God!  He has made multiple efforts over several years, trying to get individuals to speak with him and deal with him "one-on-one," only to be brushed off or ignored.  Even when He can get through to someone, through a sermon, bible passage, or one of our personal friends, we just go on about our business, paying him no real attention.

 

This is exactly what was going on when the Prophet Jeremiah was preaching to the Hebrew people in the land of Judah. 

 

It had been a little over 150 years since the Northern Kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrian Army, which was known to be God's punishment for their apostasy.  They had ignored God's pleas for repentance for many years. God patiently reached out to them through different prophets and circumstances.  This was all for naught, though, as the people of Israel had determined to ignore God's call to repentance and renewed faith.  The judgment was brutal; the Northern Kingdom simply ceased to exist!

 

Jeremiah was preaching to those in the land of Judah, considered the Southern Kingdom.  Here is just one of the passages of Jeremiah calling out to God's people:  "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; and I will give your pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.  Jeremiah 3:14-15  Here, the Prophet had reminded the Southern Kingdom of what had happened to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.  Too, he had challenged them with the call to repent,  promising that if they would turn from their sin, God would forgive them, teach them, and give them wisdom that they might live in God's ways and live eternally with God and His people.      

 

Unfortunately, the people refused to repent, and ended up suffering the punishment of God for their sins; they were conquered by the Babylonian army and were taken into slavery in a foreign land.  Had they repented of their sin, God would have forgiven them and blessed them and their nation; because of their stubbornness, though, they suffered the consequences.

 

The great truth of this true story of history is not that God punishes sin but that God would prefer to forgive those who turn from their sin and bless them.  That is God's desire! 

God loves his people; God loves all people.  He calls us all to follow Him and turn from our sins so that He may save us, and bless us with the eternal life that only He can give. 

 

Won't you turn from your own path, confess your sin, and decide to ask God into your life?  He will forgive you, save you, and lead you into a life of eternal blessing and joy!

 

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