“As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.” (Psalms 103:13)
The third title for the coming Christ given to the prophet Isaiah is Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus is the Everlasting Father. He has compassion for us as a father has compassion for his children. He listens with compassion to all our pain, fears, complaints, and prayers. Under His care, His protection, and His provision, we are safe and will be gratified for eternity.
Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.
Indeed we do come to You, For You are the LORD our God. (Jer 3:22)
Backsliding is very serious. The backsliding of the people of Judah led to the fall of Jerusalem and Judah. Throughout history, God has called for His people to return. “Ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls” (Jer 6:16, NIV). After the exile, the Israelites finally returned to the Lord and His law.
Christians can become backsliders when they lose their fellowship with God, have a cold or lukewarm heart, or fall into sin. We need to be alert so as to not become loveless, lifeless, or lukewarm believers as described in the book of Revelation to the churches in Ephesus, Sardis, and Laodicea. In the first steps of our Christian lives, we may have had enthusiasm without knowledge. Do we now have knowledge without enthusiasm? If you find yourself feeling indifferent to church, to God, or to the Bible, you have begun to shut God out of your life. Continue reading
John, having been inspired by the Spirit, reveals the primary purpose of God manifested in the flesh, which is to destroy the works of the evil one (1 Jn 3:8). God, being all knowing, knew long before the time that man would fall into the snare of Satan. For this reason, He had prepared Christ, who would adopt us who believe in Him to be His children (Eph 1:4-5) through the forgiveness of sins. Such is the unfathomable love of Christ – this is love at its purest and highest form that we can ever imagine (Rev 1:5). This is divine. This love demonstrates the complete sacrifice of Christ. It is given to the fallen humanity without a tinge of ulterior motive embedded on the part of God.
Since the love of Christ is beyond measure, it goes without saying that He can save those who believe in Him to the end. As long as any lost soul responds to His calling, He will never be hesitant for one moment to save him or her. What more for us who have already been ushered into His church, and have been baptised into Him. The writer of the book of Hebrews reassures us that the Lord is able to save to the uttermost because He has not ceased from interceding for us (Heb 7:25; Rom 8:34). If that being the case, the idea of a believer who has reached a point beyond return should never be an issue in the first place.
Nevertheless, there are numerous examples documented in the Bible that indicate otherwise. Continue reading
“So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.” (Joel 2:13)
Have you ever cried with a broken heart? What does it mean to “rend your heart and not your garments”? In Old Testament times, when tragedy occurred, smearing one’s head with ashes, tearing garments, and putting on sackcloth was the expression of mourning. This was a customary way for Jews to show their grief. However, God instructed the people that He was not interested in outward expressions but in a broken and contrite heart. The tearing of outer garments is useless unless the heart is broken in repentance and contrition. Continue reading