Sorrow

 "Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!".

Jeremiah 9:1

It was with great sadness that I heard this week about how a letter has been produced by "humanists (atheists) and churches" to encourage everyone to pursue vaccination as soon as possible.

Why is this an issue?

Anyone who has picked-up on the materials I have referred to here in the past few months will know there are very worrying developments taking place not only in relation to the safety of the vaccines themselves, but how organisations like the World Health Organisation are now deliberately preventing the circulation of data in respect to the effectiveness of the proven safe alternative to such measures (Ivermectin), seeking to herd everyone into the 'official' solution being the only answer.

There is a very serious flaw in the manner of thinking which proposes that if we relent to the bully with the big stick, then we'll be left alone to get on with things, because the tyranny that imposes such evil only knows one means of control, and it's a cruelty that will never allow anything but abuse and will produce nothing but fear.

The Prophet Jeremiah spoke of those who "heal my people lightly" (superficially) so that they presumed there would be peace (8:10), but all this allowed was a lack of shame in respect to the 'abomination' (the reason for a severance in their fellowship with God) for which they so needed to be contrite. Repentance and healing could not begin because the lie was so prevalent in their thinking that truth could not begin to take a hold.

That is the position for the majority at present - they have believed the lie, not only in respect to the level of presumed jeopardy brought with the virus, but the far greater lie that has arisen from this in respect to the imperative to 'keep safe' by only behaving, even thinking, in very draconian patterns, which will leave our world woefully dismembered, and perilously divided, probably for decades ahead (For much more on the reality of this, see Laura Dodsworth's recent best-selling book - A State of Fear - how the UK government weaponised fear during the covid 19 epidemic).

The presumption made by the church at large has likewise been entirely foolish - that because those 'in authority' have laid down a set of requirements, it is right we simply follow these, and those who question such are to be viewed as 'evil' in respect to clearly not seeking to do what's best for their communities. The problem is, this is exactly the manner of argument the 'authorities' of the day were levelling against Jeremiah because he was warning of their being in rebellion to God - you cannot murder (abortion in our day) and perpetuate such sin (use the aborted material in research to produce a vaccine) and then expect God to be favourable to you! How on earth did we reach a position where we thought we could just overlook such evils and everything would be fine?

We are spiralling into darkness, and the last thing we need right now is for the church to say is that this is all fine and acceptable - we'll just carry on meeting (in masks and distanced, of course - strictly controlling our numbers) and praying for those in authority to be 'blessed', because that's the 'christian' thing to do.

Do not, says the Lord through the Prophet, 'learn the way of the nations' - don't take their 'wisdom' as your own, God warns, because their's is the way of vanity, the folly of idolatry, of dead ideology (Jeremiah 10). How we need to hear that right now!

Change nourished by truth needs to begin somewhere in our communities. The church failed to speak out concerning the wickedness behind the present policies - will we also fail to raise our voice to aid a means of truthful reconciliation so vital in making possible a way forward for this point?

We have been brought out of bondage by the only cure to the world's ill's - the death and resurrection of Jesus! Isn't that where our confidence must be seen to rest right now in how we respond to this moment?

Jeremiah faced a moment where the presumption and sinfulness of God's people had grown so pervasive that the Lord told Him not to even seek to pray or intercede for them (11:14) - judgement was the only means available to redeem the dreadful situation.

Are we in that place?

Are we so failing right now that the only hope will be the brightness of Christ's return, as the one who comes with a 'sharp sword from His mouth' to bring and execute justice in judgement?

Who will we hear at this moment?

Ourselves?

Those saying all is (or will be) well?

Or will we choose instead to pursue the truth, however difficult, painful and costly that may prove to be?

Jeremiah was judged as unruly and ostracised because of his continuing to stand up and be counted for what had to be faced.

Where will we choose to stand?