My reading this
morning came from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. I know that Jeremiah was writing concerning another people in another time, but somehow it seemed fitting for today.
6:12 “For I will
stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land,” says the Lord, “Because
from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to
covetousness; and from the prophet even
to the priest, everyone deals falsely…”
Last night we watched the 2nd Presidential
debate. It’s been a terrible election year for both parties, colored by lies
and accusations, dirt-digging and mud- slinging. One hardly knows what is true
and what is not. There is no sense of
morality, no shame, no concern for what the children hear and see from our
leaders.
So much bickering, arguing, fighting, blame-casting…
THIS is who we have become! A people whose word cannot be
trusted, a country bent on self-destruction, people who refuse to take
responsibility, choosing rather to blame someone- anyone else- rather than admitting
our own wrong-doing. It is appalling,
shameful, reprehensible and can be summed up with these words from Jeremiah “Everyone is given to covetousness, everyone
deals falsely.”
And my heart cries – surely not! Really? Everyone?
There is a remedy. There is hope – if we will heed it.
Verse 16 Thus says the
Lord, “Stand in the way and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way
is. And walk in it. Then you will find rest for your souls.”
But they said, “We
will not walk in it.”
Our stubbornness is our own undoing.
Verse 17 But they
said, “We will not listen”
Verse 19 Hear, O
earth! Behold I will certainly bring calamity on this people – the fruit of
their thoughts because they have not heeded my word, nor my law, but rejected
it.”
And there it is:
Refusal to listen.
Refusal to heed God’s word.
Refusal to obey His laws.
That is what dooms a nation to judgment and calamity.
We’ve been dancing, teetering on the edge and now we are
toppling over.
God help us!
