Those CALLED to instruct, and reach the people have for many, many generations appeased sin, and have, at times, joined in, or ignored it; consequently, because they did not reiterate the need to put sin behind them, and even encouraged it, especially by their partaking in them, these WILL face punishment, as the people continue to reject THE LORD, and HIS WAYS...
HOSEA, ISAIAH, JEREMIAH, ZECHARIAH, EZEKIEL, and MALACHI, along with other references, speak PLAINLY about the heart break *GOD* experiences as far too many refuse fidelity, devotion, reverence, and allegiance to HIM, and HIS WILL, and forewarn us of HIS decisions concerning such...
It seems people think HIS WRATH is a joke, or like the ancients, believe that if they cry long enough, and hard enough, HE will repent of HIS fury; which HE HAS, and YET DOES, still, as people exist farther away from HIM, despite HIS LOVE for ALL, HE IS RIGHT, and inclined, to HIS anger...
1+++Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel,
For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land,
Because there is no faithfulness or kindness
Or knowledge of God in the land.
2+++There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery.
They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3+++Therefore the land mourns,
And everyone who lives in it languishes
Along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky,
And also the fish of the sea disappear.
4+++Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof;
For your people are like those who contend with the priest.
5+++So you will stumble by day,
And the prophet also will stumble with you by night;
And I will destroy your mother.
6+++My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being My priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
7+++The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;
I will change their glory into shame.
8+++They feed on the sin of My people
And direct their desire toward their iniquity.
9+++And it will be, like people, like priest;
So I will punish them for their ways
And repay them for their deeds.
10+++They will eat, but not have enough;
They will play the harlot, but not increase,
Because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD.
Hosea reproves for immorality, as well as idolatry. There was no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God in the land: it was full of murders, 2Ki 21:16. Therefore calamities were near, which would desolate the country. Our sins, as separate persons, as a family, as a neighbourhood, as a nation, cause the Lord to have a controversy with us; let us submit and humble ourselves before Him, that he may not go on to destroy...
Both priests and people rejected knowledge; God will justly reject them. They forgot the law of God, neither desired nor endeavoured to retain it in mind, and to transmit the remembrance to their posterity; therefore God will justly forget them and their children. If we dishonour God with that which is our honour, it will, sooner or later, be turned into shame to us. Instead of warning the people against sin, from the consideration of the sacrifices, which showed what an offense sin was to God, since it needed an atonement, the priests encouraged the people to sin, since atonement might be made at so small an expense. It is very wicked to be pleased with the sins of others, because they may turn to our advantage. What is unlawfully gained, cannot be comfortably used. The people and the priests hardened one another in sin; therefore justly shall they share in the punishment. Sharers in sin must expect to share in ruin. Any lust harboured in the heart, in time will eat out all its strength and vigour. That is the reason why many professors grow so heavy, so dull, so dead in the way of religion. They have a liking for some secret lust, which takes away their hearts.
Those secret liking's ARE borne of pride, and the flesh! IF we are OF CHRIST JESUS, our flesh HAS died, and we are now, of the spirit! There seems to be LOTS of confusion about duality; that is, remaining in the ways of the world, while trying to exist in *GOD*; it CANNOT be! Though we WILL struggle along THE WAY, and WILL sin, it is those CONSCIOUS, CHOSEN sins we are to resist, and battle against...
Not only do individuals suffer the consequences of turning away, or remaining afar from THE LORD *GOD*, but entire nations will when there is widespread rejection, and corruption! This ain't no game, and HE HAS made it clear what HE desires of HIS people, SO, the ball IS in our court! When the people of a country engage in wickedness, evil, and immoral ways, HE can only allow for so much, and SHALL warn them, bit by bit, via means of HIS own, be that natural disasters, plagues, earthquakes, or any of many other means of HIS expression of anger! People like to say that HE is unfair, but really?, HE HAS told us, and shown us THE TRUTH by which we ARE to exist in!!!
In these times, idolatry, falsehoods, self-inclination, pride, greed, lust, sloth, gluttony, envy, and wrath, along with all their negative components ARE rampant, and there is more, and more denying, or defying THE HOLY LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, THEREFORE, we can expect consequences, and suffering, according to HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, and HIS WORD! Just because we are far from HIM, DOESN'T mean that HE is far from us, HE IS NEAR, and PRESENT, and DOES express HIMSELF, be that in BLESSINGS, or in WRATH; DON'T doubt it!!!
What is GOOD FOR US IS ONLY FOUND IN THE LORD *GOD*, whether you want to accept this or not! The elemental rulers, principalities, and enemies of this world DO NOT give one hoot about any of us, except to lead us SO far astray that we will go down with them, AND believe it, they KNOW they WERE defeated BY CHRIST JESUS, and ARE going down FOREVER! TOO many people's LOVE, and TRUST ARE misplaced, and twisted by this evil, wicked realm! Doesn't matter how much fun, or whatever one finds here, it IS an illusion, full of falsehoods, lies, and delusion, all for the sake of the enemy being able to say to *GOD*, "See I told you they were not worthy of YOUR LOVE, and that they WOULD falter through my ploys, and their own inability to control their desires, passions, and wants!"
There ARE WAY MORE BLESSINGS to be had than curses, but we ignore the facts, as we busy ourselves chasing after things in this world! Then, when things get bad, we wonder why, and we blame *GOD* whom we did not accept when things were going well for us! Strange mentalities we have, indeed! THE TRUTH IS BEFORE US, and WORKS FOR US, NOT against us, but MANY will ignore facts and take their place in the line of the slippery slide, while thinking they are safe, and within their rights! BUT come THAT DAY OF DAYS when *GOD* appears, and judges, there WON'T be any chances or concessions available, and HE HAS told us our options, as well as the results of our choices!!!
SOME of HIS WRATH happens day to day, some is prolonged, some is put off, but one thing is for sure, it WILL affect ALL of us, as individuals, and as nations, and as Churches, as long as we disregard HIM, LOVE, TRUTH, and ETERNITY! The ball IS in our court, and we CAN exist in greatness, IF we HEED, and HONOUR THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, HIS WILL, HIS PLAN, HIS COVENANT, and HIS WORD, EACH of which IS FOR OUR OWN GOOD, HIS GLORY, and ETERNAL PEACE, HOPE, JOY, and unfathomable BLESSINGS! HE IS PATIENT with us, BECAUSE HE LOVES us, and KNOWS what we are up against, YET, HE WILL NOT BE MOCKED, nor forsaken, ESPECIALLY for what is of this world!!!
LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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