Fake faith

 

My daily  readings in Jeremiah have exposed underlying problems.

-         He highlights ‘pretending to be sorry’ (Jeremiah 3:10} – some are sorry to be caught doing the wrong thing. Other are sorry that they did not get their own way. Some are sorry that God has no tolerance  for evil! Some speak words without reality.

-         So many people live , as in Jeremiah 2:31 – “The people say ‘ At last we are free from God’” I fear this is the attitude of so many in Australia!

-         And then they dare to blame God for wars, blame God for sickness, blame God for failed relationships, blame God for business failures etc etc

-         When people choose their own way instead of God’s way, HE often ‘lets them go ahead….’ (Romans 1:24) . The consequences are just, the outcomes are tragic for themselves and others around them and maybe for generations to come.

-         It is now common to change the rules, to call sin pleasure, to call evil good, to call rebellion normal.

-         Is their any hope??  Yes – by repentance. – turning to God, acknowledging He is the Just One and His way is truth.

-         I quote Jeremiah again:

-         “Acknowledge your guilt, admit your rebellion, confess your refusal to follow Me,  throw away the idols, live good , honest lives and uphold justice. Cleanse your minds and hearts before the Lord” (Chapter 3:13)

It all seems so hopeless until you go back to the beginning of the chapter. The Lord God was/is willing to break His own rule to recover, restore, redeem, revive, regenerate the unworthy who are genuine in repentance.

“I will heal your wayward hearts.” (3:22)

Is this hope just for Israel. Rather  this call to repentance has been granted to us Gentiles (Acts 11) and the hope of forgiveness, justification and glorifcation is promised to all.

This is the meaning of “Grace”

It was Jesus who said “Repent and believe the Gospel”