The first half of Jeremiah 5 is filled with some straight talk about how we have to live. God is looking for “A single soul who does what is right and tries to live a true life. I want to forgive that person”. How sad is that. One solitary soul – that is all God is looking for that is living a “true life”. How about us today? Are any of us living the way God desires? He continues and makes the comment “if all they do is say….”. Lot’s of talk, not much obedience. That describes a lot of Christians today. We can quote scripture and act righteous, but how do we live? Does our walk match our talk? Do we live the way we tell others to live? God is not amused by our lack of obedience.
So God moves on to those who were “taught about God…went to prayer meetings…from the best families”. And the results: “They were no better off”. They were a bunch of hipocrytes too. Just because you come from stock that went to church doesn’t mean you will live it any better than those who hardly know what God expects. We best be careful we don’t get too pious about being in church on Sunday mornings. That doesn’t cut it with God. The proof is in the pudding – are we walking in obedience to His commands? Do we do what we say and know to be true?
The problem is clear in scripture: “the people’s sins are piled sky-high”. We have a sin problem and it isn’t going away. We have the exact same disease they did in Jeremiah’s time – ME. We put ourself on the throne, we want to do things our way and we ignore God’s command. We talk a good game when it applies to those around us, but somehow we are exempt from God’s truth. That is hogwash folks. We need to get our act together and understand that God demands obedience today and every moment of our lives. When we fail – that is called SIN. And the wages of sin are death – no deviation or other outcome – we spend eternity separated from God. The only way to change that is to come into a saving relationship with Jesus who paid the price in full for my sin and yours. Short of that your future is pretty intact, and it doesn’t look good. Don’t fall prey to those who tell you it won’t happen to you. God’s book is very clear – it not only can, it will. Don’t make the mistake of guessing and being wrong. Eternity is a very long time…..
