God’s day of reckoning caught Israelites unaware. Since God had removed his protection from them due to their sins, foreign invaders were able to storm their cities and looted their treasures. The Babylonians (invaders) ripped the nation of Israel and Judah apart, and they transported their citizens to Babylon as captives. Unfortunately for Israelites that rebelled against their creator, they would live and die in Babylon – unless the Creator’s wrath is appeased! The scripture reported invasion of Jerusalem,
“Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month (which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down all the walls of Jerusalem all around” (Jeremiah 52:12-14).
Lesson:
Children of God are called to honor God; we are to respect God, and dare not to take him for granted. The fact that we have a son/daughter-to-father relationship with God does not mean that we should take him for granted. Indeed he is our father, but he is a heavenly Father also, and we cannot compare him to any earthly father. He is a supreme God who has an affirmed standard. He is nice towards his children but brutal towards his enemies. More importantly, God hates sin, and he does not tolerate people who attempt to take him for granted. Meanwhile, God appreciates people with a contrite spirit. He will honor those who faithfully serve him and carefully follow his instructions. Hence, we believers should walk in integrity before God, so that he can multiply his goodness in our lives.
Prayer:
Dear God, please instill your fear in my heart so that I will not sin against you. Help me not to take your grace of salvation for granted so that I will not be punished; empower me through your Holy Spirit to walk carefully and faithfully in your presence. Anoint me to serve you with the beauty of my heart, and let my services be considered honorable before you so that I can be qualified to receive your blessings. For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.
