"We need to pay more careful attention, therefore to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." Hebrews 2:1
Have you ever felt or feel like you have drifted so far away from God that it's too late for you? That you've disappointed Him with your choices, in such a way, that He'll never forgive you. Those choices that seem LARGER than life itself. Feeling like you're drowning in the depths of your sin, sunken to a level that is so overwhelming, you think there is no escape, no way out . . . that it's simply, too late? Well think again my friend, it's never too late for you to come back to the Lord. Your problems ~ your situations ~ your circumstances will never be too big for God to handle. "The LORD says, "I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak." Ezekiel 34:16; see also: Daniel 9:9; 1 John 1:9
This morning I began reading the book of Judges ~ whew!!! As I read the brief commentary by Pastor Chuck Swindoll in the Living Insights Bible, I was struck by what an incredible time this was in Israel's history. Scenes of human depravity at its worst, yet through it all, we see God's unrelenting mercy, grace and unfailing love. As I continued to read, once again I was struck by what was happening, not to Israel, but at how much it looks like the world we live in today.
Pastor Swindoll hits the nail on the head, "First", he writes, "depravity results in permissiveness when righteousness is ignored. Second, permissiveness leads to rationalization when holiness is ignored. In other words, in a time such as ours, it is no longer vogue for someone to refer to something as "bad, sinful and wrong. Such appraisals mark us in the eyes of many as rather ignorant, or ill-informed, because moral absolutes and ethical values are now redefined. Rationalization has become such a way of life in this generation. Third and finally, rationalization encourages rebellion when repentance is ignored. This all happens so slowly, like an erosion that, though silent, causes immeasurable damage over time."
The children of Israel chose compromise rather than obedience. Do we? Often as not, we choose to listen to the enemy's unrelenting lies, rather than listening to God's unchanging Truth. The enemy comes to seek and to destroy us, our families and our relationships in any way he can. In 1 Peter 5, it says, "Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Remember he is stealthy, sneaky and silently waits to pounce. But God says, do not despair. He tells us to, "Cast all anxieties on Him because He cares for you."
God is BIGGER!!! He can take what the enemy tries to dish out for bad and use it to bring glory to His name through His deliverance. The choice is ours. We do not need to spend another moment clinging to our sins that keep us in bondage. We need to pray for godly sorrow that leads to repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10) Freedom is ours in Him. For He has promised to rescue us from the dominion of darkness and bring us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we can have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14) Know that He also promises to sweep away all our offenses like a cloud, our sins like the morning mist. "Return to Me, for I have redeemed you," says the LORD. (Isaiah 44:22)
King David beautifully sums it up like this:
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man (woman) whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD" -- and You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."
Psalm 32:1-7
