"GOD stands ready, willing, and able to forgive every sin but continual disobedience removes our desire to draw near and seek forgiveness."

The Spiritual decline of God's chosen people in the Old Testament
includes some of the saddest passages in the Bible. God dearly loved
the children of Israel, but they continually rejected Him and turned away.

God appointed King David to unite the nation and focus their worship on
the One True God. David made plans for the construction of a temple
and King Solomon built the temple a few years later.

but toward the end of Solomon's reign, "his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord
his God" (1 Kings 11:4). The Spiritual decline began with the
leadership and then flowed quickly down to the people.

When Solomon died, the nation of Israel divided and the northern
kingdom immediately began to pervert their worship: "The king made two
golden calves {and said} 'Here are your gods'" (1 Kings 12:28).

After almost 200 years of continual disobedience, the northern kingdom had
hardened their hearts so that repentance was no longer even possible;
"their deeds do not permit them to return to God" (Hosea 5:4).

God stands ready, willing, and able to forgive every sin; but continual
disobedience removes our desire to draw near and seek
forgiveness. After these many years of false worship, the people would
not return to God and would now experience His wrath.

Hosea 8:7
"They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind."

The people of Israel had planted evil seeds into their lives and the
lives of their families for many years - now the time had come to
harvest the destruction they had planted. Soon after Hosea spoke these
words of God, the Assyrian army invaded and destroyed the northern kingdom.

God demonstrated His love for us long before we ever loved Him; "while
we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). This act of
love was truly unconditional since we did absolutely nothing to deserve
His gift. But if we do not receive His love, through faith in the
sacrifice of Jesus, and begin to worship Him with purity and truth, we
too will one day feel His wrath.

The wind of unbelief and lack of trust, false worship and a cold heart,
will one day yield an eternal whirlwind which cannot be stopped. And
the wind of open sin in the lives of our Spiritual leaders, when
condoned and even applauded, threatens to lead many generations down a
path of destruction.

Let's plant and nourish seeds of truth and love which will thrive in
His presence for all eternity. Let's trust Him with a faith which will
walk into the unknown without fear because we know He is by our
side. Let's determine once and for all to live an uncompromising life
which brings glory and honor to God, and pray that on the day of
harvest we joyfully enter His embrace without reaping the whirlwind.