What choice have you made? The choice is one of devotion and dependance. Will you choose to depend on the idols that clutter your life or will you depend wholeheartedly on God alone as the source of sufficiency? The story of Israel in Jeremiah speaks to the wayward human heart that battles against God. The word of God to Israel, ”Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD. Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.’” Jeremiah 3:12-14 Would you turn away from your idols and back to God if you were Israel? Are you worshiping idols today, will you forsake them and cling to God?
We cannot choose to worship and follow God while clinging to detestable idols. There is only room in your heart for God or room for idols. It is impossible to live life as a pagan Christian. Once we are under the grace of God the idols have no hold, God takes preeminence over all parts of your life, and hope is secured even in your frailty. ”If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver, and if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.’” Jeremiah 4:1,2 Will you choose the life of devotion to God? Will you trust in the sufficiency of the cross of Jesus Christ? Will you return to wholeness in Jesus Christ? We were made to fellowship with God.
The life that we lead expresses the choice we’ve made. Will the wrath of God be satiated or will you be the object of wrath, the only avenue of deliverance is found in Jesus Christ. Will you hope in Jesus? Will you hope? Will you live? ”A lion has gone up from his thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant.” Jeremiah 4:7 As you look at the ways the people of Israel ebbed and flowed in devotion to God you will glimpse how your soul ever changes. It is the propitiation of Jesus Christ that brings rest to our souls. Stop striving and rest. Stop binding your soul to idols. Trust in Jesus.
