What Happened to Honesty and Truth

Run up and down every street in the city. Look high and low; search throughout the city. See if you can find even one person who is just and honest. Even when they are speaking under oath, they all tell lies. It’s not just the poor and ignorant – those who do not know what is expected of them; even the leaders have utterly rejected God. Even the young adults have turned; they have sworn by gods that are not gods at all. Even when fully satisfied they lust after their neighbor’s wife. Their rebellion is great and their sins are many. (A paraphrase of selected thoughts from Jeremiah 5:1-9)

It would seem as if Jeremiah were looking down through the years to 21st century America. He was told to “make an announcement” to Israel and Judah. It is an announcement we need to hear today:

Listen, you foolish and senseless people – who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. Do you have no respect for me? Why do you not tremble in my presence? My people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned against me and have chosen to practice idolatry. A horrible and shocking thing has happened in this land. . . (Selected parts of Jeremiah 5:20-30, New Living Translation)

I saw the above notes on my Pastor’s desk. I think he is planning a series of messages from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. If so, it may get difficult to sit still for the next few Sundays. Jeremiah get a little rough on those of us who are lacking in commitment and faithfulness.