“And when you tell this people all these words, and they say to you, ‘Why has the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? What is our iniquity? What is the sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?’
Jeremiah 16:10 (ESV)
Today, we look back at ancient Israel and Judah and see widespread idolatry and rejection of the Lord as God. Repeatedly, God sent prophets to them to turn them back to Him, but it seldom produced more than a superficial change. Why did they not learn? Why did they persist in their disobedience and rejection of God?
I believe this verse provides us with a significant clue. They did not think that what they were doing was wrong. They recognized the Lord as God, and they were offering the sacrifices that they thought would appease God. What more could God want from them?
Going Through the Motions
But the problem was that they were also worshipping other gods, seeking their favor, and offering sacrifices to them. They did not see why God would be unhappy with them, so long as they performed the proper rituals for Him.
Are things any different today? How many of us think that God is satisfied so long as we “go to church” most Sundays, throw some money in the offering plate, and generally go through the motions of being a good Christian? At least on Sundays.
Yet our hearts are not totally committed to him. The cares, concerns, and pleasures of this world crowd out the things of God. We are too busy to take the time to pray, spend time in God’s word, and fellowship together as God’s people. We are satisfied with giving God a few hours on Sunday, a little money, and living a “good life.” And we think all is good.
It is hard to imagine that God is satisfied with that. The God who redeemed me from slavery to sin and adopted me into his family has the right to expect my wholehearted devotion. Why should I think that he will be satisfied with less than all of me?
