Do you recall build-a-bear workshop? It's kind of neat. You can make any stuffed animal, just as you want. That stuffed animal can be exactly as you expect it to be.
The sad thing is that people try to apply that to Christ. They try to build-a-Jesus! Instead of saying, "This is my God. This is the way He is," they try to compromise Him to fit around their life. But you can not manipulate God into who you want Him to be. We dont have the choice to build our own god. He is who He is.
The other day, I read the book of Joel. In this book, we see the prophet, Joel, exhort the Jews to repentance, fasting, and prayer when desolation came upon the land of Judah.
In chapter one, we see that these people need to look to God. They were definitely not seeking Him! Then, is God not just in taking away the comforts which are abused to luxury and excess? The more men place their happiness in the gratifications of sense, the more severe temporal afflictions are upon them! The more earthly delights we make needful to satisfy us, the more we expose ourselves to trouble. But how much are we really seeking after God? How much do you really want God? Do you really desire Him? God should be more than an accessory in your life! He should be central . . . not peripheral. If a soul rests on itself, it sinks; if it catches hold on the power and promise of God, the head is kept above the billows.
We need to live in continual dependence upon God! So if we have been led astray, we need to return to the lord and repent.
7 insights to repentance:
- repent with all of your heart
- repent with authentic mourning
- repent to experience God's kindness
- repent with hope
- repent with urgency
- repent face to face
- repent to protect God's reputation
Look, don't play roulette with your soul. Do you have outward expressions of sorrow and shame, fasting, weeping, mourning? Have your tears for troubles been turned into tears for the sin that caused it?? I want you to rip your heart. I want everything to suck so much that the only thing that looks good is the path to God. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
In chapter two, we see God's judgments, exhortations to fasting and prayer, and a promise of the Holy Spirit and future mercies.
Chapter three describes God's judgments in the latter days, the extent of these judgments, and the blessings the church shall enjoy. There is no escaping God's judgments; hardened sinners, in the day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. It's almost as if God is saying,"Bring it." We can't overpower or take on God! It's sad, really. We get fixated on certain aspects of Him. We try to compartmentalize Christ to fit our lifestyle. God is more than just a loving God. He is a god of wrath. His level of tolerance for evil is done.
People, you need to right yourselves with Christ! Our time is like a cup. It is getting full.. and is going to overflow. God is going to have enough at some point. He is telling us NOW, not later. God has given us all this time to figure it out. Don't screw it up. Get right while you can.
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