DEVOTIONAL

Today we are living in times of sheer madness. It is a time when many of the leaders of our country call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; and who are only wise in their own eyes. Though the world is descending into moral ruin, where alcoholism, depression, pornography, gender identity, and suicidal thoughts invade the mind of this generation, they cannot see. They reject the light The Lord has given to them that is evident in all creation, just as it is written, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so they are without excuse.” The God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving and though they fight against the word of The Lord, He cannot be thwarted. He will execute His word here on the earth thoroughly and quickly when the hour comes. He will tread down the wicked with the breath of His word and His Kingdom will reign for all eternity.

Just under 650 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the Southern kingdom of Judah was living in idolatry. Isaiah, the prophet, had warned them of their sins and that judgement was coming if they did not repent from their sins and turn to God. Now God had been silent for 30 years and they had become more and more wicked. The land was filled with all types of sexual perversion, much like what we are seeing today. Murder was in the streets, the cries of child sacrifices echoed throughout the land, and the worship of The Lord had become synchronized with other nations. They were doing what seemed right in their own eyes and were accepted for whatever preference of pleasure they wanted to indulge in. If anyone dared to speak out against what was happening, they would be ridiculed, mocked, and possibly imprisoned or put to death. But the Lord, who rules the universe, raised up a man named Jeremiah, who would be the mouthpiece to the nation, saying to him, “I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah preached for 40 years through the span of five Kings, and his message never changed. He called the nation to repentance and told them of the judgement to come.

Though Jeremiah was a weeping prophet, the fire of God’s word burned in him like a fire shut up in his bones. He was a voice crying in the land and his voice would not be silenced by persecution. The Lord will never let the land be without one of His messengers. Although false teachers surround us, the entire land has become perverted, and the gospel of Jesus Christ has become reduced to a simple prayer with no true repentance, God still has His messengers whom He has called. His word burns in them and their mouths will not be shut. They are broken in holy prayer and will stand against the immorality of this culture. They are like iron that will not bend, and though it may cost them their lives, they will speak of the salvation of Jesus Christ.