One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. 2 Chronicles 15: 6, NIV.
Dear God, we are truly grateful for the opportunity to study Your Word in freedom. We thank You for giving us freedom of choice in order to encourage us to grow. Please teach us how to make wise choices. In the name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen.
Today, we continue in the same chapter that we took our verse for meditation from, yesterday. It is amazing the similarity that exists between these verses and some of the end time predictions in Matthew 24; and 2 Timothy 3). Observe: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24: 7). “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3: 1). Today we are adding another consideration; these calamities were befalling them, “because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. So who is the cause of their distress? Yesterday we commented that, “An enemy has done this . . . ” Today, we read that it is God, who is troubling them with every kind of distress. So who is it, finaally? Or, should the question be, “What is it?”
Let us go to 2 Chronicles 15: 3: “For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law.” I believe this is the answer to the mystery. It is futile to believe that we can have peace, while being, without God. Have you noticed the intentional use of the adjective, true? It is not that they were without a god; it just was not, “the true God.” And this condition existed, “for a long time.” I believe that it is time for “[those] who [have] an ear, to hear what the Spirit [is saying] to the churches” (Revelation 3: 6, 13, 22). When we look around our nation, and many parts of the world, do we feel as if we have been “without the true God for a long time“? Have we created our own “gods of riches,” “gods of intellectual achievements,” “gods of our personal opinions?” Could it be that we have displaced the true God, and replaced Him, with gods of our own choosing? It is a sad picture that is painted by the apostle Paul, of those who fail to acknowledge God for who He is:
“[B]ecause although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1: 21-24, NKJV).
Could it be that what we are experiencing as a nation, and the world as a whole, is due to us choosing to serve a god, made in our image, or in the image of some lesser creature; while ignoring the Creator who is to be reverenced, forever? Have you ever given serious thought to the reason God prohibited, in His moral law, the making of any image to represent Him? You see my friends, the minute we try to contain Him in our imaginations, that image is already defiled. The reason? Because our hearts are incredibly evil (Jeremiah 17: 9). Therefore, any product of our hearts, have already been contaminated. That is why, all our righteousness is like “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64: 6). That is why, we need the Savior!
Jesus wants to save you. Will you allow Him? If you do, please write and let me know about your decision. I would like to send you some literature to help you in your Christian walk.
We will continue this conversation tomorrow.