The Warning Before Judgment
Jeremiah was called by God to preach a hard message to a disobedient people. The people of Judah had descended deeply into sin. Jeremiah’s message warned of impending judgment because of their idolatry, dishonesty, adultery, injustice, and even the sacrifice of their children. They had persisted in rebellion despite repeated warnings, and the time of judgment was approaching. Yet even the warning of judgment was an act of mercy. The Lord sent His servant Jeremiah to tell the people what was coming and to call them to turn from their sin. God had warned them, “Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an enduring nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand.”
The Babylonians would become an instrument of judgment in the hand of God. Through the exile, the Lord would judge Judah for her persistent rebellion while preserving His covenant purposes and ultimately bringing a remnant of His people back to the land. Even near the end, God extended mercy to King Zedekiah. Jeremiah told him, “If you will indeed go out to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned with fire, and you and your household will survive.”
But Jeremiah’s message was not well received. Because he faithfully proclaimed the Word of God, he was beaten, imprisoned, and eventually lowered into a muddy cistern where his enemies intended to leave him to die. Yet God providentially preserved His servant. Through the courage of Ebed-melech, Jeremiah was lifted from the cistern and continued to proclaim the Lord’s message to Zedekiah. Zedekiah, however, refused to obey.
Jerusalem was eventually conquered and burned. Zedekiah attempted to escape but was captured by the Babylonians. Before his eyes, his sons were put to death. Then his own eyes were put out, he was bound in bronze fetters, and he was taken captive to Babylon. Jeremiah, however, never compromised the message God had entrusted to him. Whether the people listened or rejected him, he faithfully proclaimed the Word of the Lord.
There is something here for the church today. God has also entrusted His people with a message that the world will not always welcome. Scripture declares that God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness. Therefore, Christians must not be deceived by the spirit of the age or remain silent because the message of repentance is unpopular. We are called to speak the truth in love, calling men and women everywhere to repent of sin and turn to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
Scripture warns, “Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” Those words are solemn, but we must never stop there. Paul immediately reminds believers, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” That is the hope of the gospel. The very people who once lived under the dominion of sin can be washed, sanctified, and justified through Jesus Christ.
A day of judgment is coming. For those who remain outside of Christ, it will be a fearful day, for He whose eyes are like a flame of fire, whose feet are like burnished bronze, and whose voice is like the sound of many waters will come in strength and power. He will judge His enemies with the sharp twoedged sword that proceeds from His mouth, and every secret sin that has been concealed within the heart and mind will be brought to light before Him.
Therefore, today is the day in which the gospel is to be proclaimed. Bring sinners to the foot of the cross and call them to behold the bleeding Savior bearing sin in the place of sinners. Speak of the crown of thorns that was thrust upon His head, piercing His flesh. Speak of the Roman soldiers who scourged Him until His body was torn and bleeding. Show them the agony of the cross and tell them how, even while suffering, He prayed, “Father, forgive them.” Speak of His resurrection from the dead and His ascension into heaven. Tell them how He drew you out of darkness and brought you into His marvelous light.
For the same God who warns sinners of coming judgment now commands them to repent and believe the gospel. Proclaim to them that forgiveness of sins is found in Jesus Christ alone, for the Scripture declare, “There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”