Unforsaken

Jeremiah 51:1-53; Psalm 99; Proverbs 26:17

 

In today’s divorce-happy United States, many husbands, wives and children have been abandoned. Left behind. Forsaken. A lot of the hurt, pain and anger that flow so strongly through our culture’s emotions are the result of a nationwide experience of abandonment. America’s men and women have proved that, given the right to abandon one another, men and women will turn away from those they claimed to have loved. Sometimes husbands abandon their wives because their wives have cheated on them. Sometimes wives will seek a divorce when a husband’s been abusive, either to them or to their children. Sometimes divorce comes because of a legitimate offense, a serious offense.

 

But sometimes not. Couples might split because one of them wanted a younger spouse. Or because one spouse feels “held back” by being tied to a spouse or children. Sometimes there’s no particular reason for the split besides feelings: “I’m not in love anymore.” Divorce is no longer based on guilt. Divorce is no longer based on offenses. Divorce is now grounded, far too often, in a spouse’s pursuit of happiness and the belief that we have the right to break our marriage covenants in order to pursue happiness for ourselves.

 

God isn’t like us. Thank goodness!

 

For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the LORD Almighty, though their land is full of guilt before the Holy One of Israel. – Jeremiah 51:5

 

Our God is a faithful God, even to those who have offended Him, sinned against Him, been unfaithful to Him, abused His covenant and His name. God does not quickly forsake His people—even when they are guilty. This does not mean that He will always allow sins to go unpunished; He proved that on the cross when Jesus, His Son, died for our sins. And He has promised that when Jesus comes again He will send the unrighteous away from Him forever to face the penalty for their sins in everlasting torment. And each person has a limited time to turn from his own guilt, sin and shame to trust in God, because each of us will die at the end of our allotted years. So God’s patience and faithfulness are great, but His patience will not last forever. Still, God’s faithful love for His people is far beyond our imaginations. We are so quick to abandon those who hurt or offend us, but God does not quickly forsake His people. We have a window of hope when we see that our God has not forsaken us, despite our guilt. He calls us today to turn back to Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, strength. Join me in turning again to our God, whose arms are still open to save us from our sin.

 

Father, thank you for giving us so much opportunity to repent, to turn away from the guilt of our sins and stop hurting people and disobeying You. Give us the ability to stop offending You. Thank You for sending Jesus to be righteous, to die for our sins, to give us His righteousness, and to make us righteous, too. May many people call on Your name today!