Jeremiah: Judgment and the Neglect of God

"And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, 'What do you see?' And I said, 'I see a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north.'" (Jeremiah 1:13)

Today Teddy (my pastor, Edward Donnelly) started a series on Jeremiah. I also happen to be reading Jeremiah in the morning. (Ryle on Matthew has moved to the evening.)

Teddy examined the Judah of Jeremiah's day and the West of today. Sexual immorality, the murder of children, the godlessness of government and multi-faith religion in the established church were rife, and so they are today. Surely we have a boiling cauldron sitting above us. We are ripe for judgment. May we earnestly beg God to turn away His hand of judgment from us! Let us remember Moses who earnestly beseeched God on behalf of rebellious Israel.

Judgment, wrath, sin and Hell are neglected words in the modern Church. "Love, love, love" is all we hear. And what about ourselves? Are we as serious and direct as we should be in presenting the great danger that besets our family, friends and work colleagues? Are we too concerned with being liked, to the eternal destruction of those nearest us?

Teddy especially looked at the neglect of God as the root of all these evils. Take the modern Westerner. When he rises out of bed, does he think of God? When he eats his food does he give thanks? Does he stop to think of God and worship him? He is too content with his full belly.

"The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is not in all his thoughts." (Psalm 10:4)

What about ourselves? He is always thinking of us: "Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to you in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." (Psa. 40:5) Are we thinking as much of Him as we should, or are we too much taken up with other things like Martha?

"Mary... sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving... 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'" (Luke 10:39-42)

God sent His only begotten Son to bear the wrath and curse of our sin on the Cross. He died that we might have eternal life, and what is eternal life? "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3) This is why Christ died! Not that we should just have nice family and church lives, but that we should know Him.

Are we really taking the effort to know Him as we should, or is our religion so much theology without the fellowship with God which is the point of theology: the knowledge of God. What is our prayer life like? Are we really engaging with God in our Bible study, not just the facts?

"He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." (2 Cor. 5:15)