#17a Through the looking glass

Through the Looking Glass




For many, we mouthed repentance, yet our hearts are not

‘O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.’
Jeremiah 14:7



The Lord knows that our hearts are not right

‘…..I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.’
Jeremiah 14:12



How many trials do we desire to face before truly repenting of our sins??

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgements – sword and famine and wild beasts and plagues – to kill its men and their animals.’
Ezekiel 14:21



While God will judge us, God is also ever faithful and willing to forgive

‘Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then I will bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: …………..
And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.’
Jeremiah 15:19-21









Why do many continue to test God???


1. They have yet to see God

‘where is the Word of the Lord. Let it come!!’
Jeremiah 17:15

The Word of God also says :

‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. Whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the water…’
Jeremiah 17:7-8



2. I am ‘right’ with God. It is others who are wrong with God


‘to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all meekness unto all men.’
Titus 3:2

The Word of God also says:

‘The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it??’
Jeremiah 17:9


3. God will always forgive, even if I do wrong.

‘for this brother was dead and is alive again; and was lost and is found’
Luke 15:32

Yes, but only if we truly repent

‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord….’
For whom the Lord loves He chastens……’
Hebrews 12:5

Are you responding???

4. It is all grace of God, not what I do

‘….not by work of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us……….’
Titus 3:4-5

True, but by works we glorify God. By works, we let God transform us into His image.

‘Now no chastening for the present seem to be joyous but grievious;
‘nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteouness, unto to them which are exercise thereby
Hebrews 12:11

5. Can we truly believe in what we have not seen??

‘if a man dies, shall he live again?’
Job 14:14

The Word of God also says:

‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man. And makes flesh his strength. Whose heart departs from the Lord’
Jeremiah 17:5


For Alice of Wonderland, her nightmare turned out to be a dream.
For us, if the Word of God is true, and it is, do wake up from your stupor.

For do we let God painfully but gainfully ‘wake us up’ or do we continue to luxuriate in the rose-bed of deceit to discover too late that it is a grave of our own unbelief.