How Did They Get Into This Mess?
A CNN headline today reads:
How did Greece get into this mess? Why Greece's experiment with the euro ended in disaster
The answers are, in short, bad decisions taken for convenience in the short term, without duly considering the consequences. The people listened to the voices of those who misguided them. Free will was exercised, seeking satisfaction, but things didn't turn out that way. Their decisions and actions failed the test of time. And now, years down the road, what a mess!
But the Greeks aside, we know people who could be asking themselves that same question. "How did I get into this mess? Why is this experience, my life full of unhappiness and disaster?"
Some are adult children who were lovingly and sacrificially raised in Christian homes, in the fellowship of a sound church, learning the Word of God, and yet, today their lives are in shambles. They may be living in an unequal yoke with an unbeliever. They themselves may be unbelievers. Sin has come to the forefront of their lives, and sin always breaks fellowship, with God and with those who walk with Him. These are like the prodigal son living in the far country. Their parents may well say like the father of the prodigal: "This, my son, is dead...." meaning estranged, alienated. They were taught the principles of discipleship, the principles of the church according to the New Testament, but today all that is behind their backs. They try to be happy, to be successful, as if to justify their decision and condition, but they know life could be different, better, blessed. But at some point in the road they began to listen to voices or fulfill their own self-centered and ill-advised desires that led them down the path of estrangement. Decisions and actions have consequences. They left the home, they despised their parents' counsel, they left the church, they went the way of the world, and now the life they had before is nowhere to be seen. Like Greece, now they wonder, how did they get into this mess?
Some were just false professors of Christianity. Raised in Christian homes and churches, they learned all the language and behavior, but no divine work was done in their hearts. There was no deep conviction of sin. No real repentance. No choosing of Christ, no casting themselves on Him in faith to follow His lead. Some just wanted to be forgiven so as not to go to Hell, but they did not want to trust and obey. Like the seed sown among thorns or on stony ground in Matthew 13, it was only a question of time.
But even more importantly, how can they get out of this mess? The good news for the false professors is that God wants to forgive and save, if they will humble themselves, admit their emptiness, repent and come in faith. The good news for the errant believers is, there is a way back into happy fellowship and blessing, but it is not farther down this road of errors. It lies behind them. Turn around. Forsake. Go back. Repent. In Jeremiah 6:16 we read God's call: "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." And sadly, their reply was like many today, "But they said, We will not walk therein." They don't want to stop, to see, to admit their error, to ask for the old paths and walk in them. They want to go on ahead and make things work out. But it won't happen. There is no way to avoid the humility of repenting and admitting the error of their ways. "I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight," said the prodigal.
Israel often got into a mess, through bad, self-willed decisions, imitating the world around her, and through the Old Testament prophets God called on her to repent (Isa. 55:6-7). 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells how to get out of the mess: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." When John the baptist came preaching he called on the nation to repent (Matt. 3:1-2). Some of the churches in Revelation 2-3 got into a mess, and the Lord called on them to repent (Rev. 2:5, 16, 21-22; 3:3, 19).
This is God's way, and it will be no different with you, dear one. Don't listen to the voices of those who tell you otherwise. Don't accept the false comfort of those who ignore your sin and try to prop you up and keep you happy. There is no way to finesse your way to blessing, to persist until finally all is well. God will not have it. Like others, you got into this mess by making bad decisions and acting on them, and now it is time to undo all that, and take God's medicine: repentance, humility and faith. "In returning and rest ye shall be saved" (Isa. 30:15).
God's word to Israel is still valid today: "O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips... I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely..." (Hosea 14:1-2, 4). This is God's way out, and back into blessing.
