The Point of No Return

Read Jeremiah 8:4-13

The apostasy of the people at this time was far worse than during the periods of backsliding that they had gone through in the past. These had generally ended in national repentance and renewal; but this time it was different. The power to turn seemed to have gone. Their 'homing instinct,' the spiritual equivalent of that which enables migrant birds to return home, had broken down. "They refuse to return."

In our generation we can see another consequence of rejecting God. True wisdom is lost. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom", but in places where He is rejected, it isn't long before history is doctored, art is perverted, and knowledge is willfully misused.

In our last study we saw the shamelessness of the people; in this passage we see more evidence of spiritual decline. The people have become complacent (v.11). They refuse to look facts in the face. The threat to their national security is glossed over and ignored. Could they have said, with some of today's pundits, "The international situation has nothing to do with religion, that's a private affair. We don't expect any major incidents to occur"? In Jeremiah's day, as in ours, commentators must have been quick to come up with all sorts of plausible explanations for their problems. They probably had a bucketful of remedies, too. What they did not have, and what is sadly lacking today, was the courage to call sin by its name. In their diligence not to offend, they offended the Law of God. But their posturing could never work. Prognosis requires accurate diagnosis. You can't supply a remedy for a disease you refuse to acknowledge.

Grant, O Lord, that however badly I may fail, I will never reach the point of no return, and that I will never call my sin by any other name. In the name of Christ my Lord. Amen.

Image: Judgment