Forgetting to Remember - From His Heart - Week of September 29, 2016
FORGETTING TO REMEMBER
"When He killed them, then they sought Him, and returned and searched diligently for God; and they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer." Psalm 78:34-35
God is a God who loves to bless His people. Everyone I know loves prosperity and blessings. We love it when our lives are running over with good things and everything is coming up roses. However, the potential problem with abundant blessing relates to memory. In the midst of our prosperity, we often forget God who has so graciously blessed us (see Deuteronomy 8:11-14).
When we begin to forget God, God works to get our attention. More prosperity and blessings typically do not solve the problem … but a dose of adversity does. Psalm 78:34-35 may not be anyone’s favorite verses, but they are true to human nature. We are most prone to seek God when tragedy befalls us. The Sunday following 9-11 saw churches overflowing with congregants. Why? In tragedy, people begin to seek God. When human answers and human abilities fail, men are most apt to call upon the Lord.
TRAGEDY OF TRAGEDIES
The tragedy of tragedies occurs when God allows adversity to come into our lives, and we still refuse to seek Him. When our hearts get so hardened, so proud, and so rebellious that nothing will turn us back to God, the final judgment will surely commence.
In the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the tribulation period (seven years) is depicted in graphic detail. During these seven years—especially the last 1260 days—the righteous wrath of God falls upon a wicked world of Christ-rejecting men. Revelation 16:9 gives us great insight into this nearing day, “And men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues; and they did not repent, so as to give Him glory.”
Isn’t that response telling? When the severest of difficulties strike … and men choose to blaspheme rather than repent, they cross the point of no return. When neither blessings nor curses can turn men back to God, God is left brokenhearted (see Genesis 6:6). He has no other recourse but final judgment and eternal hell.
A WAKE-UP CALL
We desperately need to wake up to the world around us. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, fires, and famines are disasters with a purpose—to turn our hearts to Him, before it is too late. To be sure, God is a God of love … but He is also a God of holiness, righteousness, and justice. The Judge of all the earth will always deal justly (see Genesis 18:25).
Noah’s ark was built as a refuge for the coming flood of judgment. The ark was a huge vessel with ample room for a multitude of people to find salvation. Tragically, outside of Noah and hisfamily, no one responded to the message of judgment and salvation.
May we be like Noah and share the news of judgment for sin and salvation in Jesus Christ, before the wrath of Holy God rightly falls. Surely, it is coming. The only ark of safety is Jesus, the One who died and rose again to purchase a place for us in heaven.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
P.S. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Direct questions and comments to pastorjeff@fromhisheart.org.
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 149 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
Fear No Evil
Fear. It is a common enemy all of us encounter on a regular basis. Fear keeps multitudes of people from walking by faith and doing the will of God. Fear must be understood so it can be overcome. In this three-message series, Pastor Jeff Schreve shares powerful insights to help you rise above your fears and believe God for victory.
