Day #83
Scripture Reading: II Kings 21 - 25 …
Manasseh and many of the other kings of Judah mixed
the worship of the LORD with the worship of Baal and other gods, and the result
was judgment. God had already brought judgment on the northern kingdom of
Israel and now Judah lay in the path of His just wrath. Manasseh's
father, Hezekiah, had been a relatively good king, but Manasseh rebuilt the
altars to other gods that Hezekiah had torn down and added more. "He
sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and
consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the
LORD, provoking Him to anger" (21:6). The people did not listen
to God, so "Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than
the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites" (21:9).
The people of Judah, like the people of Israel, had
forgotten about their God and had mixed the worship of God with the worship of
the gods of the nations around them. They no longer celebrated the Passover and
had forgotten what God had done for them. Even after the brief revival under
Josiah, we read, "Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the
heat of His fierce anger" (23:26) … and the people were taken into
captivity in Babylon.
"It was because of the LORD's anger that
all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end He thrust them from
His presence" (24:20). What God had predicted through the
prophet Jeremiah came true: "Judah went into captivity, away from
her land …" (25:22). Yet, God had also promised that He
would bring them back. Through Jeremiah and then Ezekiel, God gave hope
to those in exile, and through the prophet Isaiah even foretold the name of a
foreign king who would issue a decree for their return. God would keep His
promises to His people!
As we live in this world as followers of Jesus
Christ, we are being told that we must "respect" those who worship
other gods and who practice other religions.
Others say we must engage in interfaith dialogue so that we understand
each other better and have peace among people of all religions. While it
is true that wars between nations should not be fought over religion, the
question is how to respond to people who do not believe the Bible, who do not
believe in Jesus Christ and who do not know the God who reveals Himself in His
Word and in His Son. What should we do?
In view of what we have seen as we have gone
through the books of I and II Kings, what does GOD say? First, let me
define the word, "respect." This is the new "code
word" that is being used by people in the “interfaith movement.”
They say that all people should respect the beliefs of others, while they
continue to hold to their own convictions. That sounds good … but is it?
The definition of "respect" is: "a feeling of deep
admiration for someone or some thing that arises from their abilities,
qualities or achievements." Does God tell His people to have a
feeling of deep admiration for those who worship other gods? "NO!"
That may sound insensitive, but let me follow that
statement with this one: God doesn't tell us to respect them, He tells us
to LOVE them!!! If I say that I admire the Buddhist or the Muslim or
others for their beliefs, or that I admire the beliefs themselves, am I not
denying my God and doing exactly what the people of Israel and Judah were
judged for: mixing the worship of the one true God with the worship of
other gods? In doing so, am I not DISrespecting God?! If I give the
impression that the worship of other gods is just as good as the worship of MY
God, am I not rejecting my own God as the One who has revealed Himself as the
ONLY God, and His Son Jesus Christ, as the ONLY Savior?!
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that "the
Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to
teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in
the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge
of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap
of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will" (II Timothy
2:24-26). If this is what some are saying we should do, I whole-heartedly
agree; but this is not "respect" as it is defined in the dictionary.
"LOVE" means telling people the truth, praying that
they will hear it and turn from their false beliefs to put their hope in God.
That's what Josiah attempted to do when he removed
the altars in the high places and called the people to celebrate the Passover. He
didn't compromise the truth; he proclaimed it and called people to respond.
Paul wrote, "For Christ's love compels us, because we are
convinced that one died for all … and He died for all, that those who live
should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was
raised again" (II Corinthians 5:14-15). Love demands that we
speak truth, loving people enough to share the Gospel with them, which alone is
the power of God unto salvation.
God calls us first to love HIM, and secondly, to
love those around us who are spiritually dead. Paul wrote to the
Corinthians, "By setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves
to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is
veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age
has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of
the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (II
Corinthians 4:2-4).
You and I who believe are not called to
"respect" other religions or those who hold to false beliefs.
That would be to fail to love God or them! I pray that you will
join with others around you who are convinced of the truth of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and that you will love God and love others enough to be engaged in
proclaiming the one true God to the world around you.
"O LORD our God, I confess that You alone are
God and there is no other. I worship You alone and rejoice in Your
salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ. Give me strength to stand firm
on the truth You have revealed in Your Word and give me wisdom and grace to
love those who may oppose me and Your truth, so that I may respond in humility
and speak Your truth clearly, that those who are lost may be found and that
Your Name might be glorified! In Jesus' name, Amen"
No comments:
Post a Comment