GODISNOWHERE
Jer.22:15-16
6-28-2009
In the heart of the wicked there is no place of honor for the Almighty to rule, nor throne for Him to reign from. In the heart of the wicked there is no fear of God for to that person He is not real and neither are His judgments. This is a shameful tragedy for the one who doubts the Creators existence because they have shut themselves off from blessings beyond imagination and life immortal.
The truth concerning God is that He is real, His judgments are sound, His truth absolute, His mercies abundant and His jealousy un-survivable. Who can contend against God and prevail? Who can ignore His provisions of grace and still expect reward?
David says this of the wicked: PS 36:1 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin. 3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good. By the Spirit of the God whom he served David new the truth concerning the heart and mind of the one who denied the magnitude of God’s power and the reality of His constant presence and the depth of His caring for His creations success.
Today’s lesson is an attempt to bring out a clearer nuance to what it means to be Christians. We know from the words of Scripture that many an Israelite was living religiously but was regarded by God to be wicked. Why was that? We also know from Scripture that this is also true of many Christians, they live religious lives and yet are regarded by God as wicked. What is the cause of such disturbing and tragic news as this?
The cause and its effects are there in David’s words. (Ps.36:1ff) The deadly heart condition is one that says something like this: ‘I am good, God will not condemn me.’ Their eyes are blind to the reality of their own sin and condemnation and thus loose sight of the truth concerning their own existence.
Jeremiah speaks of the right path, not the path of religiousness but the path that seeks to please not appease. The difference is in the doing what is right and good rather than in just not doing what is wrong. JER 22:15 "Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. 16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.
To know God is to understand what brings Him pleasure and seeks to do those things because you want to bring Him joy and pleasure. Paul has this to say: EPH 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
Christianity is not about law-keeping. Christianity, even though we are called to live holy lives we are called to do those things that give God glory and pleasure. This includes praying, (Prov.15:8) Seeking others salvation, (1Tim.2:1-4) obeying His commands, (1Jn.3:21-24) and respond benevolently to the people around us. (Mat.25:34-40) God is now here and He witnesses the motivations of our hearts, He sees the actions of our hands and hears the words that are uttered even in the secret places of our mind. Does your life reflect the fact that you know God?