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Argentina in 2004
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Where are your eyes focused?
John 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
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Bodie Island Lighthouse, Outer Banks, NC
From the book of Jeremiah: A Two-fold Promise:
The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, If that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, "If it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." (Jeremiah 18:7-10) |
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Jesus even tells us the importance of keeping our eyes on Him.
The people of Israel committed a grave sin when they asked God for a King to rule over them so they could be like the other nations that surrounded them. God was furious at their request, but he gave them their hearts desire. However, along with the blessing, they were given some reminders of the evil of their sin. Samuel told them that although they already had a king, meaning their Heavenly Father, they would now have an earthly king. The entire country is then warned to be especially vigilant at heeding God's law, or swift punishments would be executed against the nation. Samuel proved the warnings were from God by causing a thunderstorm to appear in the middle of the wheat harvest, the coldest time of the year. But, God never leaves us cowering in fear. Hear Samuel's next words:
And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
And turn ye not aside: for then ye should go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
1Samuel 12:12-22
Note how God tells us not to turn aside and go after vain things, or "empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing." He specifically tells us to keep our eyes on him and not turn away! So, even in spite of the greatest of failings, we are not to look elsewhere for our salvation, but to humbly and immediately beg his forgiveness. He always forgives and forgets instantly, if we ask him with a humble heart.
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In Jeremiah, Jesus promises to heal our backslidings...
Jer 3:22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
A more familiar story to most of you is the parable of the Prodigal Son. Jesus was attempting to tell us that there is no sin too great that we cannot return to the father and humbly ask his forgiveness. He specifically charges us to keep our eyes on him anyway, and he will heal us of our backslidings.
World Challenge Organization
Read the discussion between the angels and Abraham before the destruction of Sodom and Gemorrah.
Genesis Chapter Eighteen
Why do you think God allowed Abraham to ask him so many questions?
Would God have relented if the people of Sodom and Gemorah had humbled themselves and asked God's forgiveness?
Why would God have forgiven even these great sins?
Pray the sinners prayer
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From the end of the earth I will cry to you, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2 |
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
Think of the many trips Jesus made up to the mountaintop to be alone with his Father. What did the two of them discuss? We know simply that Jesus drew all of his strength from there. I truly believe that during his many times of prayer, he begged the father to forgive us. Jesus, himself Lord and Savior but also a man, knew us better than anyone ever has. And so he reminded the Father again and again of our powerlessness over sin, and our casual disregard for the true evilness of our actions. Are we truly capable of "knowing what we do."
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