And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you, and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. Leviticus 26:33
A friend was telling about some of the orientation he received when he was hired at a large company. In addition to the general familiarization material and tours of the operation, he was briefed on the company’s very rigid security policies. These included a list of the steps the company would take to punish those who violated the policies. This was important because the company required close control to prevent competitors from accessing their information. The penalties usually involved dismissal, but also included the possibility of lawsuits and reimbursement. The idea was to have employees so terrified of the consequences that they would never dare step outside the bounds of proper behaviour. They could never say they had not been warned. Neither could the Israelites of old.
God had great blessings planned for those who obeyed His commandments, and dire warnings for those who refused to obey. When we consider the blessings, we wonder why any would want to depart from God’s plan and purposes. But when we look into our own hearts, we can see see that we are no better. The Israelites tested God’s patience and eventually suffered the ultimate retribution of banishment from their land, first during the time of the Babylonian captivity, then after the New Testament era. God kept His promise, although He issued plenty of warnings. It’s the same with us today. We have seen religious organizations that once held onto a measure of truth and acceptance of the Word of God but which opted for their own ideas and programs. They have deteriorated to the point of either extinction or of having nothing recognizable as the truth. The grace of God has preserved our Assemblies, as godly leaders among us who have passed on have been replaced in large by godly men who hold the truth of Scripture. How long will we endure? Only a faithful reminder of God’s provision for His blessings and of God’s promise of punishment for disobedience will preserve us.
Professing Christendom is slipping rapidly into error and failure, and soon little will remain that has any resemblance to the truth. Will our Assemblies persevere until the Rapture? Let us hope and pray so. Even today, we see the impact of the little foxes doing their damage around and among us. I believe that only the return of our Lord will prevent deep destruction. How sad if our Assemblies should fall waste due to our disobedience to God’s plain word!
Our text is a warning to us. Let us heed it and harken to God’s Word. – Jim MacIntosh