What Did I Do Wrong To You?

“Thus says the LORD: “What injustice have your fathers found in Me, that they have gone far from Me, have followed idols, and have become idolaters?  Jeremiah 2:5 (NKJV)

Sometimes things just go too far and they reach that point of no return. Sadly, there are those of us in this world who will ask how far that point is and how long will it take to get there. In my case there was a time in my life where that point was on the horizon and I was at full sail to get there, “hold her steady as she goes, matey!!” But God wasn’t having any of it and just as fast as I set sail and got under way was just as fast as God brought that journey to an end. And when that journey, on the seas of destruction, came to its end, I was left standing on the deck, in front of God, faced with a question. What did I do wrong to you? To this day I am devoid of an answer…yep…pretty much!

When we look at chapter two of The Book of Jeremiah we see the same question being asked to the people of Israel. King Josiah was doing his best to turn the nation around but it went too far. My guess is that the sacrifice of its children to a graven image was the final straw. Surely this time period in Israel is in the forefront of The Savior’s mind as He rebukes His disciples, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14) In any case, too far is too far and if you know the history surrounding Jeremiah during his ministry you’ll understand why it wasn’t easy for him to be preaching anything to anyone. This brings me to where we are today, as a people.

Not too sure if any of you reading this are picking up on it but those “Award” shows do everything they can to elevate man above man. As I was looking at the “Oscar” statue, I couldn’t help to notice that not only is it faceless but it has, what looks to be, a sword. I commented to my wife, “Doesn’t that look likeNebuchadnezzar’s idol?” It was also funny that, recently, while this idol was in an actor’s hand, he wanted to thank God, who he looks up to, “God is all about gratitude”…then he said his hero is who he ten years from now. WHAT!? That just gives me a headache and has made me wonder what kind of people will we be in ten years?

In my own little way of contrast I have to look at myself and notice my times of ingratitude. Before Jesus, I was all about elevating me above you, sometimes even by way of beat down. And you know something…they never gave me an award for doing it. HMPH!! But when God had enough of it and stopped me the question was: “What have I done wrong to you to make you rebel against Me?” As humbling as it has gotten, I am becoming increasing aware that it is about being content with rather than being awarded for. Unfortunately society today doesn’t see it like that, on the contrary, it only acknowledges God if it has a “graven image” in its hand first. Sad but true!!

I believe that we have our Jeremiah’s in this world saying to us, “Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law that I have set before you, and to listen to the words of My servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently, though you have not listened, then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.” (Jeremiah 26:4-6) But, as a people, we ain’t listening. Instead some of us are holding our “award” and listening to ourselves sing “How Great I Art”. Once again…sad but true. As Christian brethren, may we not reach that point of no return but instead turn to find our contentment in what He was CHOSEN to give us and then in a grand chorus sing, “How Great Thou Art” Amen? – Chris Hughes is a regular Freedom Fighter blogger and a graduate of the Colony of Mercy

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 10-11

Think About This:“Grace will save a man but it will not save him from his idol. The blood of Christ will shield the penitent sinner alone, but never the sinner and his idol.”—A.W. Tozer

Verses to Memorize: But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 2 Corinthians 2:9-10