08/05/2011 - THE PROFILE OF THE APOSTATIZED CHRISTIAN

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“How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow is she, who was great among the nations! The princess among the provinces has become a slave!” (Lamentations 1:1)
The lamentation contained in this book written by Jeremiah must be known in the hearts of all those who fear the Lord; contrary to suffering, which is reserved for all those who are rebellious among the people of God. The book of Lamentations, written as a poem, serves as a warning for all of us never to trifle with sin.
Prophet Jeremiah states that the land of the people of the Lord was reduced to tears after its destruction by the Chaldeans. In fact, the suffering was massive because their own wrongdoings were the cause for the Israelites to be delivered into the enemy’s hands. So, those who are wise should run back to our Father’s arms because everything that goes against His plans will certainly drive anyone to doom. The Most High had other plans for His people, but they didn’t heed them. Consequently, for that attitude, the Jews have paid a high price up until the present days.
Reading the books of Jeremiah and Lamentations helps us make a self-analysis and upon realizing we have strayed, then we should go back to the Lord and stay at His feet. Now, many will have their sins revealed while still alive, but to others it will only happen on the Day of Judgment. The Hebrews were held in captivity for seventy years; but today those who are condemned to eternal perdition will never get out of it. So, my brethren, don’t let yourself be carried away by our enemy’s tricks or by the pleasures of sin so that you don’t have to go through eternal suffering.
All that anguish that the people of Israel had to experience is a warning to those who don’t mend their ways and who think that our God has changed. There were plenty of fake prophets who deceived the Israelites in those days; besides, the princes of Judah didn’t want to be instructed because what really mattered to them were the pleasures of the flesh and the accomplishment of their own wishes, and that’s precisely why they
went through great suffering. So, with all that long list of examples, what’s the point of sinning? God’s not a debt collector who draws up trial balances on a weekly or monthly basis. Nevertheless, our sins will be accounted for one day for they can only be found in the lives of those who depart from the Word. If this is your case, hurry back to Christ. Only those who drift away from the Word of God live a sinful life.
The Almighty God always had wonderful plans for the children of Israel. Many did what was righteous for quite a long time; but at some point they let themselves be carried away by false prophets and bad examples. Then, they felt the taste of sin and enjoyed it. So, consequently, they were punished for their wrongdoings. All we have to do is consider what has happened to the history of mankind to realize that it’s not worth living away from the divine will. Many servants of God all around the world are yielding to sinful deeds; many are disrespecting the Holy Word and yielding to the pleasures of the flesh. But the consequences will be disastrous because once the crown on their heads is taken off suffering and pain is all that’s left.
In Christ, with love,
R. R. Soares