Several chapters in Jeremiah constitute a message to the people of Israel coming to the temple. Jeremiah stood at the door and delivered what they needed to hear from God. That’s why we see such strong words. Jeremiah was at the door, not in the temple, because the people were corrupted to the point that the door was as near as God would go. Serving God had become only an empty religion. The reality of serving God was absent and taken over by the service to and worship of Baal.
For our worship inside these walls to be as it should, it has to be the same wherever we go. Christianity is a life not a routine we do a few times a week. This past week has come and gone. September has come and gone. The revival effort has come and gone. God is asking what are we left with?
Consider asking yourself this question. Do you want to avoid it? Why then? Chapter 8 has many questions from God but few come from the people. We ought not to trust ourselves or the world to give us answers. We need self-confidence—enough to get us through—but never to the point of ceasing to trust God. Every day we should take a look at ourselves and ask questions. If we have not complied with God, we need to ask ourselves about it and not continually questioning God about why he did or didn’t do such and such. God asks the questions.
The scripture is from Jeremiah. Look at how many questions there are in verses 19 and 22 alone.
Jeremiah 8:19 “Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? 20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”
Why then? Is there no medicine? If a person is sick and no medicine is available and he dies, it’s understandable. But God asked is there no medicine, no balm, in Gilead? He calls Israel his daughter with all the tenderness and concern that a father has for his children, particularly a daughter. Girls seem more vulnerable and tender. This describes us. There is an aggressive onslaught of the devil intent on stealing us away from God and destroying all good things. Often we treat our relationship with God as routine and make ourselves vulnerable to the devil. We are tender not strong. We give in. Revival needed to make us strong. Yet do we find ourselves putting other things before the Lord. Do we occasionally include him? Why then? If we came through this week with no effect, we are the same as we were a week ago. Then the revival was in vain. When God’s people realize their faults and failures, change comes.
Are you changed? Are you a better Christian? If not, why then? What has your Christian profession produced? God asks us to consider the answer. Look at verse 22. Consider your spiritual life. All of us can do better. Why are we not doing so? God provides the means, but we excuse ourselves. Why then? Why aren’t we healed? There is no reason we can’t be genuinely moved and changed. We can put God where he should be.
Verse 20 has a stark realization. Fullness of God is like harvest time. The harvest has been offered in all the weeks past. The fruit of it was the medicine to give us nutrients for the healing of our soul. It’s still available. The physician, Jesus, is still here to administer it. With each day the harvest is passing. Jeremiah told the people of Israel there was no need in going further than the door. God was not there. The harvest was past.
We’re pulling the last of the tomatoes off the vine. You can’t glean off the blessings of others. You can’t be a parasite Christian. If your heart is not right with God, you’ll go to hell. You have refused the remedy of salvation for your own soul. It’s still a season of harvest, but the final opportunity is coming. Summer has officially ended. You can feel it now. It was hot the first of the week, and it’s cold today. God told Israel is was too late. We see the harvest quickly passing; like the tomatoes, it’s just about gone. In a moment, in the twinkling of any eye, just like the lightening goes from east to west, we’ll see the coming of the Son of Man.
How many times do you let Sunday and Wednesday nights go by and don’t even plan to attend church? You assume you can later. What would you think if I told you there is no use to call on Jesus because the Lord shut the door? You’ve had the opportunity time after time to avoid hell. What if I said the summer is past and the harvest has ended? I’d have to say “sorry, you’re not saved.” You know harvest is passing. Only God knows when it will be over, but by the signs of the time you know it. Right now you can look at the late blooming flowers and know that summer is over. Why don’t you discern the times spiritually? You can sin your last chance away.
All of us should start looking. We should use the altar all we can. We should come to church all we can. Don’t eject Jesus out of your life for temporary things when it’s time to go the house of God. We can’t get rid of this truth. Is the Bible still in this pulpit? Is the balm, the Word of God, still here? Is there not a physician? Dr. Jesus is still in the house. Where is the patient? Why then? Why are all your injuries not healed? Why do you remain unchanged? Only you can answer that. You can give the surface answer, but God knows. You can have your excuses, but God sees. He knows the deep and true answer to why you don’t pray or read your Bible like you should. If you seek to hide, you won’t prosper. If you confess, God will bless. Why not come to the doctor before the harvest is completely past. Come for your own soul’s sake.
Why then? I hope that question doesn’t have to be asked of you.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 