An Interesting Thought

“An Interesting Thought on The Difficulty of Change”

I was reading a commentary on the book of Jeremiah when one paragraph grabbed my attention and held me in its grip because it highlighted how difficult it is to make changes that are soul-deep.

The commentary presented background for the Book of Jeremiah.  It seems that Judah, to whom Jeremiah prophesied, was in Satan’s idolatrous grip, which was promoted during King Manasseh’s 55-year rule.  Josiah succeeded Manasseh as king and there came a time when he was impressed by a rediscovery of a copy of the Mosaic Law.  You might say that this discovery was God’s way of giving Judah a chance to change their lives for the better.  So impressed was he thatJosiah actually succeeded in removing all of the outward forms of idolatry, but wouldn’t you know it, all of his efforts did not reach into the people’s hearts because, after his death, the people went right back into idolatry.

It is so easy to put on a suit, a tie and a smile and go to church because it is external.   It is easy to close our eyes and lift our hands in praise because, it too, is external.  It is more difficult to change our internal conditions.

I am told that the Word of God is the answer.  II Timothy 3:16 says: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Don’t be like the man who has an answer for everything but it is always the wrong answer.   Someone said to me the other day that God knows my heart, but that may be the reason He is trying to give him a new one. LOL!

Don’t just read the Scriptures. Study them.

I remember a few people who started out with Christ at the same time I did. I often wonder what happened to them.  I haven’t heard from them in over 45 years.   I wonder if they are still living.  I wonder if they went back into the world or what.  

I am sure that not all of Judah went back into idolatry. Some of them got right with God.  

It takes a combination of the Word of God, working according to the Spirit of God, to produce the Effect of God.