Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Jeremiah 16:1-21
“Why has the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? What is our iniquity? What is the sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?” (Jeremiah 16:10)
This generation, we care and know very little about the wrath of God. In our surrounding culture, everything is well. Our city runs smoothly, the streets are safe, and food is always plentiful. We think all is at peace, and therefore God must be pleased with us in His love. However, we neglect stories from the Old Testament about God’s wrath to His people who sin against Him.
Judah’s sin before God was that their fathers and themselves had rejected God and gone their own ways. They decided that God was not worth it to follow and instead worshipped foreign idols and gods. They neglected God’s good law and instead followed their own stubborn wills. Refusing to listen to God, they committed great evils in their heart.
In our culture, at this time, we are also rejecting God and His ways. We have gone after other idols, namely ourselves. We no longer believe God even exists, and we blatantly refuse to listen to Him. Instead, we have made up our own laws and follow our own stubborn wills. We pride ourselves on our intellect and advanced civilization. We think that we are God and that we can rule ourselves without Him.
Everything seems peaceful and prosperous, but if God does not change, then God’s holy wrath against rebellious and sinful people like us still holds. In fact, our rebellion against God is only getting worse. God’s wrath must be all the greater for us.
What did God do to those in Judah? He hurled them out into exile, where God did not abide with them. He let them worship their idols, and God showed them no favour. When God lets go and lets His people live out their sins, this is God’s ultimate wrath.
Romans 1:18 says, “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth”. Unrighteousness and godliness are very prevalent in our world today, and so our world is awaiting God’s mighty judgement.
How we must humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God in humility and repentance. We need Christ. Without Christ, we will face God’s wrath for our ungodly and rebellious ways. Christ is the only saviour for people like us who have gone so far astray. Moreover, we need to cling to Christ to renew us each day because our hearts are inclined to return to our idols. Without His mercy, we are nothing and deserve to be decimated by God.
It is not only us that needs Christ. The whole world needs to know of Christ. Although our sins are many, Christ came into the world and the problem of evil to die and to conquer it. Only in Him, there is hope and light in this dark world. We must go to tell others this good news. This is the only hope in the grim world we live in, which grows darker every day.
Lord, please let me understand the true reality of sin and Your wrath. Forgive me for taking faith lightly. Thank You for Christ, who is our refuge and our stronghold. Apart from You, we are nothing. We praise You because of Your mercy and grace to Your people. Please help us be Your servants and spread Your good news to those around us who desperately need it. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hans Sangtoki (18) is the coordinator of RE Generation Z. He has a passion for serving his generation and sharing hope in Christ. He also has an interest in classical music and dreams of conducting an orchestra one day.