03/10/2022 - REVERSAL WITH CONVERSION

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And that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt Leviticus 26.41

God’s love for His people is greater than we can understand. So that His children will not be lost, He lets them face painful experiences. Now, if the Lord doesn’t take care of the saved today, leading them to face the devil’s hatred, many will taste the divine wrath in eternal punishment (1 Corinthians 5.3-5). There is a popular saying that goes, “He who does not come by love, comes by pain.” This is not in Scripture, so it should not be used, but it comes close to the truth.

We must never rebel against adversity. It’s good to examine our behavior before they occur; then we will find out where we are wrong. After all, the curse without a cause shall not be fulfilled (Proverbs 26.2). Job, the patriarch, who suffered terribly, contended by faith without accepting the evil, because he saw no reason why God should have failed to keep him. However, one day he concluded that fear was secretly controlling him (Job 3.25).

We must refuse that which comes from the devil. Thus, we will avoid situations similar to those that befell the patriarch. The apostle Paul talks about the duty of always examining ourselves, in order to find out if we are reprobate: Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified (2 Corinthians 13.5). Watch, pray, and live!

The Lord takes responsibility for having allowed the Israelites to go to Babylon, the land of those who had no regard for them. Why did God do this? They did not observe His Word. Similarly, His love allows evils and failures to befall us, because we open ourselves to the evil one. Otherwise, we will be led to march towards perdition, to suffer forever. Be careful! 

In the Land of Promise, there is plenty, healing, forgiveness, and a way out of trouble. However, if we do not persevere in goodness, God will correct us, allowing momentary tribulations to overtake us. This is the way out of the shortcuts: Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent (Revelation 2.5). Repent and live!

To come out of the land of the enemy, remember from where you have fallen and repent. Then the place of your lampstand will be reserved for you. Repentance takes us into the arms of the Father and brings us back into communion with Him. The decision is up to the person who loves himself, for God will never be deceived. Judas Iscariot thought he was the wise-guy, stealing without being rebuked or shamed by Jesus (John 12.6). Poor Judas! He would not let himself be taught by what he heard.

Don’t take for granted the chastisement of your iniquity, return to the Lord with a true heart and a willing soul. Be purified now! God is watching your decision. Do you want to be eternally happy? Meditate on Revelation 22.11 and tell the Most High what you want for your life!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares