And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: And I will send an Angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb. (Exo 33:1-6)
As we continue the account of the Israelites sIn with the golden calf and its aftermath, GOD tells them to go up and take the land, that He will drive out all the people before them, but He will not go with them, because of their sIn. They realize the folly of going anywhere without GOD, even if He clears the way, and cry out and mourn. They have begun to repent and to realize how great their sIn is, and how much more it will still cost them to be restored to their relationship with GOD.
GOD is serious about sIn. It is an affront to His Holiness, and His character. He, as a just and righteous GOD must punish sIn. Since He is also merciful and loving, He has provided the only possible payment for sIn, in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Those of us who have received Him by faith have been justified and forgiven, not to sIn more, but to glorify our GOD and to do the work which He has called us to.
For our GOD has not taken us Home right away, but has left us here on this earth as His ambassadors, to do His will and accomplish His work in and for this lost and dying world. We are to minister to the hurting, that they might see Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory. We are to disciple one another through His Word and in love, so that all men may know we are His disciples. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and the reconciliation that is available to all who repent and believe on Him, that in believing the Gospel they might have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD is Holy and must punish sIn, but in His mercy GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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