"IF YOU RETURN!"

Jeremiah 4:1-4                               (ESV)
"1 "IF YOU RETURN", O Israel, declares the LORD, to ME you should return. If you remove your detestable things from MY presence, and do not waver,
2 and if you swear, 'As the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in HIM, and in HIM shall they glory."
3 For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds."



Many times in my life I have said that "If my life were considered a ship, the journey would go something like this.  GOD is the Captain of my ship and HE guides me around some storms, and through other storms, for HIS glory.  From time to time I take over the helm thinking I can do a better job.  Invariably, I drive my ship into tumultuous seas needing GOD's assistance to get my ship back into smooth waters"!  

The Children of Israel seemed to have the same problem as I do.  Once again, GOD is telling HIS children "IF YOU RETURN" to ME, and if you remove your detestable things from MY presence, HE will be their GOD and heal their land!  But we tend to point our fingers at the Israelites and say they have had their chances and "they'll never learn" for they always get right back into trouble!  But Believers in HIM are ALL in the same boat!  We Believers tend to bring our "detestable things" into HIS presence and expect GOD to bless us in spite of our sinful ways!

America is on some rough seas!  When we have The Creator on board to navigate our ship for us, we cannot afford to have a novice (human) guiding our ship. We MUST turn back to GOD.  No earthly leader has the ability to get us out of the storms we have driven ourselves into.  Sometimes it is difficult to let go of the stern when in the midst of a terrible storm that gives every indication of having fatal consequences.  But WHO can be better trusted than JESUS?  And WHO is more experienced to guide our ship?  HE can "cause a storm" or HE can "calm the seas"!

The thing that I find easiest to "see" is the rough sea that OTHERS experience, rather than my own troubles!  Observing the course they have followed (the seemingly bad choices they have made) can be helpful, but their journey is not mine.  One can only speculate if our abilities could have resulted in a smoother sea, or we might have directed them directly into a MAJOR storm!  One thing is certain, "IF YOU RETURN" to the Master, HE can not only get you through the storm, but HE can help you avoid future storms!  That is, "IF YOU RETURN"!!!