October 18, 2026 -Easy is Not Always Good
“Although our sins testify against us, do something, Lord, for the sake of your name. For we have often rebelled; we have sinned against you.”
Jeremiah 14:7 NIV
“This is what the Lord says about this people: “They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the Lord does not accept them; he will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.””
Jeremiah 14:10 NIV
It would be tough to be the prophet who has to deliver the truth of how God sees them.
“But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ ” Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. ”
Jeremiah 14:13-14 NIV
Sounds to me like Jeremiah was trying to make excuses for the Israelites. They liked what these lying prophets were telling them so they believed them. Even though what they were saying was not consistent with what God had told them in the past and what He has done in the past.
“Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve.
Jeremiah 14:15-16
God does what He has said that He will do. He shows everyone that He does not lie and that He is consistent in what He says and does. Anyone who would prefer to believe a lie because it is easier or more palatable should not be surprised when that lie is proven to be wrong.
We acknowledge our wickedness, Lord, and the guilt of our ancestors; we have indeed sinned against you. For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us and do not break it. Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, Lord our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this.”
Jeremiah 14:20-22 NIV
And if we like children come around and acknowledge our wrong and give God the recognition and respect that He deserves, does that mean that there are no consequences for the sin. No. Coming around and asking for forgiveness just because you don't like the punishment is not true repentance. Recognizing our sin and being motivated to repentance by the regret of the sin is where our hearts should be. I have known of children who will tattle on themselves. That is the kind of repentance we need to have and the kind of repentance that will bring forgiveness. I think that the only way to be fully properly motivated is when you trust in Jesus and have the Holy Spirit living in you. He can reveal to you things that are sins that you might otherwise not even notice. The Holy Spirit and the word of God can help us to recognize the lies that sound good and the truths that we should follow. It is very easy to put your faith in things that sound good and easy but that doesn't make it true.
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