Judgement Is Coming

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 39:1-10

“In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it.” (Jeremiah 39:1)

For years Jeremiah stood up in the courts of Jerusalem and prophesied God’s wrath and judgement to all of Israel. He pleaded for them to repent and to turn to God. In his pagan times, he was not received well. No one accepted his message and humbly repented. Instead, they seized him, persecuted him, and locked him up, leaving him to die many times. 

Jeremiah’s age is similar to our times today. The world mocks the idea of judgement or hell. They say that we believe in made-up fairytales. They scorn and laugh at the idea of Christians who desperately plea with them to repent. As 2 Peter 3:3-4 says, “knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 

We must be alert to God’s reality. Nobody knows when Jesus will come back to judge the world. It could be any day. Have we repented and turned wholeheartedly to God? If we continue to disobey God, there might not be another chance. 

Up until the last moment, Jeremiah called king Zedekiah to humble himself and repent so that his life might be spared from the hands of the Babylonians. However, he refused. God’s judgement surely came because God is true to His promises. Zedekiah had his children murdered in front of him before his eyes were plucked out so that the horrifying image of his children was the last thing he saw. 

God’s judgement in the end times is real. Therefore, we must respond to God appropriately. In Jeremiah’s time, the people embraced the messages of the false prophets who would preach peace and prosperity in their land. They would speak about God’s favour to His people even as they continued to worship idols. 

Similarly, there are many today who preach false messages of love. Many will say, God is love and thus tolerate all kinds of defile sins on the basis that God will forgive them. Our God is a holy God who sees into our hearts. He seeks obedience, repentance, and a heart that is fully surrendered to Him. 

As Christians in a paganistic culture, we must humbly acknowledge God’s truth. We must repent and return to the Lord through Christ Jesus. Then, we must be a witness of the truth in this world of darkness. As Jeremiah stood up to preach the truth in his times, we ought to be the light in our days. We will be scorned and mocked, and persecuted. However, God’s Word will never be proclaimed in vain. They will either bring repentance or bring judgment to all those who hear. Let us take courage and trust in God because for His true children, those who humbly turn to Him, God promises to be with us and never leave us as He promised to Jeremiah. 

“They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:19)

Lord, please forgive us of our sins and worldly ways, which are dirty before Your sight. Please remember us in Christ Jesus and create in us a humble heart of repentance and obedience. Even though the world will mock and scorn us, teach us to stand up for Your truth in this age of darkness. Teach us to be Your witnesses, and in You mercy, please allow us to be Your servants and walk with You who is faithful to Your servants. Thank You, God. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.