READING: Jeremiah 52, Hebrews 9:11-10:18
God had warned them it would happen. Judgment would come if the people did not repent, and He would send His people into captivity (Deut 4:25-27). Still, the people lived in rebellion, and it cost them. All their allegiances to false gods, their sacrifices to their idols, and their prayers to gods who couldn’t hear them could not protect them from the loving wrath of the true God. Babylon invaded Jerusalem, and “Judah went into exile from its land” (Jer 52:27). The story had come to a difficult and sad ending – were it not for God’s graciousness willingness to draw His people back to Himself and to their land years later.
It’s hard to think about the number of tragic endings we’ve seen due to sin. Sometimes they can be stated in one simple descriptive sentence packed with grief (not unlike Jer 52:27), but the pain and the consequences continue for decades. Indeed, the story of the Hebrews and other contemporary stories we know continually remind us that:
- sin has consequences
- God’s Word regarding judgment on sin is not just idle talk
- the temporary pleasure of sin is not worth the long-term pain of judgment
- were it not for the grace of God, all of us could be there.
How I pray that our personal stories will not end sadly!
PRAYER: “Lord, remind me that today’s choices can bring tomorrow’s pain. Help me to finish well.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Review and catch-up day