Tag: Jeremiah 23

Were You Really Born This Way?

On By TimIn Jeremiah 07, SinLeave a comment

How many times have you heard it said that God has already determined all things that are to be, and has ordained and decreed them to be?

What does the Bible say to this?

For the sons of Judah have done evil in My sight, says the Lord. They have set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to pollute it. They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My heart.

Jeremiah 7:30-31 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Because they have forsaken Me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocent, and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into My mind—therefore, surely the days are coming, says the Lord, when this place shall no more be called Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.

Jeremiah 23: 4-6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

They built the high places of Baal which are in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molek, which I had not commanded them, nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

Jeremiah 32:35 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Recorded three times for the hardened-of-heart who would want to blame their sin on God by saying “I was born this way. He made me a sinner.” God doesn’t command, decree, or imagine all things that do come to pass. There are things that happen that do not come from His mind.

Don’t fall for the false gospel of a false god who is powerless to save all.

Don’t Run and Hide

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Jeremiah 23, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

Am I a God who is near, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I do not see him? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.

Jeremiah 23:23–24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We all have a tendency to hide in shame from God. Adam and Eve did it. But Who came to find them?

When we consider that it was God Who sought them out in their self-made condition, He called to them, not because He didn’t know where they were or what had happened.

When they finally came out from hiding in their shame, God asked why. It wasn’t because He didn’t know. It was God from the beginning restoring what was lost. He came to them reconciled, wanting them to be reconciled to Him. He educed a confession of sin from both of them.

It’s the predicament of humanity. We lose our focus on God and get sidetracked… Often entering into flagrant rebellion against Him. It’s not unprecedented. In such situations, the shame of sin keeps us from God. We want to cover ourselves and hide.

God is always near. His nearness is not something to make us uncomfortable. On the contrary, it is that we need to know as the psalmist did. If God counted our iniquities against us, who could stand? (Psalms 130:3-4.)

He doesn’t want us hiding. He wants us to enjoy His presence, much the same way Adam and Eve did. He sent His Own Unique Son to ensure that. If sin gets in the way of that relationship between us and God, it’s because we (and the enemy) keep an account. 1 John 1:9 teaches us that we can run to God, not in shame but boldness. We can confess the iniquity and be restored.

You really cannot run and hide. Remember that. You wouldn’t be alive if He was counting your iniquities against you.