Wednesday January 23

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate. Matthew 23:37-38

The Warning Went Unheeded

On November 16, 1985, Armero, a city in Colombia, South America, was destroyed by an avalanche of mud, melting snow and lava caused by the eruption of a volcano. Ample warning had been given of this impending catastrophe, but the warnings were generally unheeded. Even as destruction was rushing upon the city the mayor was on the radio calling for calm when the announcement abruptly ended; destruction had come! Over 25,000 people died and most of the city was destroyed.

The application of this historical event is clear; destruction will one day come to this earth, and God is now, today, graciously calling all, everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Please do so before it is too late.

But as we read accounts in the Bible we see similar petitions from God to His people Israel. On numerous occasions He called Israel to turn from their idols, from their wrong practices, from their disobedience and return to HIM. But they did not listen and as a result they suffered defeat and destruction. The disciplining hand of their God was placed upon them.

Let us not be quick to point the finger at Israel. God has warned and pleaded with us too. The prophetic history of the Church in Revelation 2 and 3 gives the Lord’s warnings to us, showing the consequences of not heeding His pleas. Finally He is outside knocking at the door, desiring entrance as He wishes that we enjoy fellowship with Him (Rev. 3:20). Like Israel we have distanced ourselves from Him and what we know to be correct and true obedience. We feel it as we see the lack of vitality in our places of worship. Let us remember from whom we have distanced ourselves; let us repent and return to the Lord.

Albert Blok