27 April | Teens
«And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.» 2 Chronicles 36:15, 16
In today’s text we find the sad story that tells us why Jerusalem, the beautiful and holy city, ended up falling. The reason was not only military or political, it was, above all, spiritual. This text shows us that the people, including the leaders and priests, had strayed from God’s ways. They ignored the warnings of the prophets, choosing to follow unrighteous practices and idolatry, turning their backs on the covenant God had made with them.
God, in His mercy, tried several times to bring His people back by sending messengers to warn them. But sadly, these warnings were ignored. Then the result was devastating: the city was destroyed, the Temple burned, and the people taken as slaves to Babylon. This exile in Babylon served as a painful consequence of that long journey away from God.
When we talk about this turning away from the things of God, know that it is gradual. How so? It increases little by little. If we neglect our relationship with God—failing to pray, to attend services, to read the Bible, and to seek moments of fellowship—we begin to drift apart, perhaps without even realizing it. This happens in any type of relationship. Stop doing some things and love “cools off.” Know that this turning away from God is a subtle trap, which begins with small oversights and a lack of attention to His words. We need to be on the lookout for any signs of drifting away because we do not want to “fall” into this trap!
Take Action
Think about what you were like when you first met Jesus. What did you do as soon as you started going to a church? Has much changed for your current self? Are you getting closer or are you drifting away from Him? Pray by giving yourself to Him once more today.