Can you imagine what it will be like when God says at the end of time, "No more! You've chosen the path you wanted to walk. The door is closed to Salvation. I will not take you back. I will not forgive anymore! He that is filthy, let him be filthy still..."
Israel got to taste this experience... For not long after Abimelech's disaster rule and demise, Israel again turns back to their idols and false worship, so God once again delivered them over to their enemies--this time the Philistines. Again they cry out to God, but they aren't crying out because they hate sin, but rather because they hate the consequences of their sins. And this time, God says, "Nope! No more! I've delivered you time and time again, and time and time again you keep going back to your gods. Go cry unto them now. Let them deliver you!"
What a dark night that must have been for Israel...
Ellen White writes the following in Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 557-558. It's a sobering picture of what is going to happen at the end of time.
Sorrow had not worked true repentance. The people mourned because their sins had brought suffering upon themselves, but not because they had dishonored God by transgression of His holy law. True repentance is more than sorrow for sin. It is a resolute turning away from evil.
The Lord answered them through one of His prophets: “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to Me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken Me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”
These solemn and fearful words carry the mind forward to another scene—the great day of final judgment—when the rejecters of God’s mercy and the despisers of His grace shall be brought face to face with His justice. At that tribunal must they render an account who have devoted their God-given talents of time, of means, or of intellect, to serving the gods of this world. They have forsaken their true and loving Friend, to follow the path of convenience and worldly pleasure. They intended at some time to return to God; but the world with its follies and deceptions absorbed the attention. Frivolous amusements, pride of dress, indulgence of appetite, hardened the heart and benumbed the conscience, so that the voice of truth was not heard. Duty was despised. Things of infinite value were lightly esteemed, until the heart lost all desire to sacrifice for Him who has given so much for man. But in the reaping time they will gather that which they have sown.
Saith the Lord: “I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out My hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all My counsel, and would none of My reproof: ... when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of My counsel: they despised all My reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” “But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:24-31, 33."The good news is, the door of probation has not closed yet. He still hears when we call. He still forgives when we confess our sins. But there's no time to waste. Hebrews 3:15 tells us, "While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." Let's not tempt God. Let's follow after Him with all our hearts, so that when the end comes for us He will say, "No more suffering my child, no more pain. No more temptations, no more struggles. You are mine and I'm taking you HOME!"
Tomorrow's Reading: Judges 11-12 and Psalms 42-43
No comments:
Post a Comment