WEDNESDAY: DON’T BACKSLIDE!

May 17, 2023
2 min read

Luke 21:21-24

20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Roman empire attacked and destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D. They left devastation in their wake and at the same time fulfilled prophecy.

Why was such a desolating prophecy pronounced on such a significant city—the most important city of God’s holy nation? For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. Since the Jewish nation became oblivious to what God had to say to them, they received His wrath and punishment. They fell by the sword and were taken prisoners.

The nation of Israel wasn’t without warning. Jesus had spoken this prophecy decades before this event took place. What went wrong?

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: When I want my own way, my heart grows hard to God’s way. I will become bitter and callous to God’s way of doing things. I won’t be open to hearing the Word of God. In fact, I won’t be able to hear His Word, but not only will I have closed my ears to His Word, but I will have closed my heart.

When I close my heart to His Word, I close my heart to Him. I will stop seeking after Him. I will stop all of the things that helped me draw so close to Him. If I am a true believer, there is a word for this condition of the heart: it’s called backsliding.

If I’m a backslider, then I have fallen out of touch with God. The sad thing is that it is not hard to become a backslider. All I have to do is to take my eyes off God and focus on anything else for awhile, and I’m at risk.

Lord, please watch over me as I keep focused on You each day. Help me stand firm as I pray. Help me stay focused enough to confess my sins. Help me be thankful enough to rejoice in You. Above all, help me keep You as the Lord of my heart and of my life.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman