125. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, we all, like sheep, have gone astray.
12 March 2021
Photo by Tatiana Zanon from Unsplash
We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Isaiah 53:6
Revelation 2
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
The first century churches, the churches of the province of Asia, "All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one" (Psalm 14:3). "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
We have to say we are no different from the first century Christians.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
Luke 22
44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Anguish.
Almost one year ago, I believe, we all, were in anguish with the covid pandemic. Suddenly thoughts of end times. The main passages above are from the Book of Revelation.
Has that anguish evaporated? Now vaccine is available, yet covid cases are spiking again.
It may be said, nothing has changed overall for us, a country predominantly Christian, 92.5 percent of about more than 100 million population.
Here is something written more than 18 years ago, which I believe we need to ponder upon.
"A Call to Anguish (by David Wilkerson, 9/15/2002)
How many churches have you been lately where you hear a word comes forth that’s so burns in your soul, you know it comes from heaven, you know it comes from the heart of God.
All true passion is born out of anguish. All true passion for Christ comes out of a baptism of anguish.
Would you just now set your heart and say Jesus I’m willing to follow you all the way. I want to know you and I want to know your heart. Come Holy Spirit. You do it Holy Spirit.
Now I believe in the love of God. I’ve preached mercy and grace and covenant love. And I believe in preaching the goodness and longsuffering of Christ. But multitudes today are being saturated with “you’re ok” messages. And we’ve got people now that are turning the grace of God into lasciviousness. We’ve become like the children of Israel who said the right words, but here’s what God said: I’ve heard the words of this people. They have well said all that they have spoken. Oh that there was such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep my commandments always that it might be well with them and with their children forever (Deu 5:29). You have the right words. You sing the right songs, but your heart is not right."
The question is, has our being in anguish brought us closer to God? We can only bend the knees of our heart before God and continue to beg for His mercy. Then our passion for God will be revived, for we have forsaken our first love, our Creator, our Heavenly Father.
Let us pause and come humbly before the Lord, with anguish in our hearts and on bended knees. Lord, have mercy on us.
Sharing my prayer, part of my reflection 30 October 2017.
"Lord, "As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. (Romans 3:10-11) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Roman 3:23-24) Lord, I put my faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, my Redeemer; this I pray. Amen."
One day, my children's children will say, wala ka sa Lolo ko; for him, we all, like sheep, have gone astray.
May you be blessed with God's Word. Amen.
Maraming salamat.
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