05/09/2013 - MEMORIES THAT BRING SUFFERING

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In the days of her affliction and roaming, Jerusalem remembers all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old. When her people fell into the hand of the enemy, with no one to help her, the adversaries saw her and mocked at her downfall.

Lamentations 1.7

Because it despised the warnings from heaven, Jerusalem endured days of affliction and roaming, remembering the pleasant things it had once possessed. However, the story could have been different. Now is the time for you to conduct an introspective examination and find out if you are or not standing in the faith. Why should you despise the Spring of living waters? Those who are living in sin will regret their behavior, but it will be too late.

God has given his people all kinds of gifts; in spite of that, many people abandoned the house of the Lord and threw themselves into the “mire” of the world. He who acts in this manner feels right away the effects of sin and, over time, becomes an easy target for the enemy’s attacks. In the eternal captivity, those who did not turn back to the Lord will suffer, remembering the pleasant things they had in the days of old. It will be useless, though.

Today the Lord has vested his people with the same power as in the past—we do not have any less power than Moses or Jesus (John 14.12). The difference lies in the mission with which we are entrusted and how much we believe in God’s Word. As long as we follow the Lord’s guidance, it does not matter how difficult our mission is, because we already have all tools we need to fulfill it.

Jerusalem despaired when it fell into the hands of the enemy. Many people today also become desperate when they see their beloved ones being deceived by all kinds of evil: children involved with drugs, prostitution, illegal behavior and false religions; to make things worse, some of them end up dying very young. This shows that many people have gone too far and they had better come to their senses.

If you need help today, let the Lord God embrace you; he is more than sufficient to help you out. All you need to do is turn back to him. He promises to be near all those who seek him. Today Jesus is your Lawyer, so if you trust in him, you will not be put to shame on Judgment Day. But when the Great Day comes, he will become the Judge, and he will no longer intercede on your favor. Demons are masters in leading people to sin and later mocking them; so do not trust in any of the devil’s promises. On the contrary, brethren: stand firm in what the Lord speaks to your heart. He has made you good promises. Believe in them, and your life will be richly blessed!

In Christ, with love.

R. R. Soares