Vanity "Fail"

Jer 2:5 HNV
(5) thus says the LORD, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

Somewhere along the line, everyone who has ever breathed oxygen will stand before God in spirit. I say this somewhat flippantly, because it is simply impossible for us to imagine what this experience might be like. We know that John did it - in the spirit - and "fell at His feet like a dead man".

John knew Jesus, personally. No man was closer to the King of Kings while He walked the earth than John. John fell - like a dead man. Meditate on that for just a minute.

For some, this experience will be even more terrifying. Exponentially so. You might say that every horror conceived by man could not be condensed into such a horrific moment as the one in which an estranged man stands before Holy God. When that happens, the question might be asked, "What unrighteousness have you found in Me, that you have gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and have become vain?" There will be no one dare answer that question.

It is a good question, though. At some point, love was not enough for someone. Kindness was met with suspicion. It happens every day. Someone turns their face away from God because they simply cannot believe they owe Him anything - much less everything. When self preservation is the only thing - it fails. It is vanity.

Mat 10:39 HNV
(39) He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

Devouring the Holy

These are perilous times. Most nations are not doing well - few are thriving, if any. We have seen prosperous times in the last couple of decades, but those seem very distant. What gives?

There is a precept in scripture that basically says that how well you deal with Israel determines how well you live, thrive, and prosper. Most of us are familiar with the passage in Genesis 12:3 which says God will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse Israel. Jeremiah gives us another reason blessings and curses fall:

Jer 2:3 HNV
(3) Yisra'el [was] holiness to the LORD, the first fruits of his increase: all who devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come on them, says the LORD.

Israel was God's First Fruits! All First Fruits given to God are Holy, and if you devour that which is Holy, you had better be a priest - also Holy. If not, then evil comes, according to the word of God.

David stumbled into the tabernacle - starving - and ate the shew bread that was reserved for the priests. It was holy to God - set apart. But David's life was spared because He, too, had set himself apart for God. He danced into Jerusalem wearing a linen ephod (priestly garment), an early picture of Jesus - both king and priest. We were also made kings and priests by God, a HOLY nation. We must bless Israel, God's First Fruits, because we are growing upon them. They are the stump which sprouted that we were grafted into.

The nations act in ignorance. They are like children in a lion's den - captivated by something deadly. We, as Christians, are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the salvation of Israel. Lets be diligent in doing that! Be blessed!