Do Not Omit a Word

Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. Perhaps they will listen, and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.” (Jeremiah 26:1–3, NIV 1984).

My Musings – This was God’s word to Judah many years ago. They did not listen and were sent into exile for seventy years. But how does this speak to us today?

We are commissioned, like Jeremiah to “speak to all the people.” But more importantly, to “tell them everything [He] command[s] [us]; do not omit a word.” Even though “the message of the cross [will be] foolishness [offensive] to those who are perishing, [for those] who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18, NIV 1984). Sugar-coating the Gospel by omitting the consequences of rejecting it (as is becoming more and more common) will not make it less offensive or less foolish to those who are perishing. But it could very well rob it of its power, resulting in some who might otherwise have been saved to perish with the foolish ones.

My Advice – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV 1984).

The Gospel that we carry, whether in our own “Jerusalem” or to the “ends of the earth” is good news to all who believe and receive. But many will have to hear the bad news, “the wages of sin is death.” in order to receive the good news, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NIV 1984).

We must tell them “everything” and “not omit a word.” As offensive, foolish and crude as it may sound, rejecting God’s grace will only give way to God’s judgment. One may “swear there ain’t no heaven and pray there ain’t no hell,” but they best not wait till “[their] dyin’ to tell.” Because “there’ll be no peace in dyin’ when they end up in hell.” (adapted from And When I Die, Blood, Sweat and Tears). And that will be forever, not some finite time like seventy years.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. There is power to save in God’s grace!