“Repent Or Perish!”

“Repent Or Perish!”(Jer.26:1-15).
Prophet Jeremiah deserves to receive a posthumous accolade for resilience; for standing by the truth of God’s word, and being ready to die for it.
God asked Jeremiah to “stand in the courtyard of the LORD’S house and tell” the people everything the LORD commanded him to say without omitting anything. The LORD hoped that perhaps the people will hear the message and turn from their evil ways. Then, he, the LORD will spare them the punishment he intended for them.
But then, when they heard the message, what did they do? “The priests, the prophets, and all the people… said, ‘You must die!…'”
This is the risk to life that genuine prophets of God face; first from their colleagues who recruit the ordinary worshippers to be in league with them!
The reason is simple: People want to hear what they want. This is to say people “often selectively listen to and interpret information, focusing on what aligns with their existing beliefs, desires, or biases, while disregarding or downplaying contradictory information.” And at the worst, they end up either destroying, or discrediting, or killing the messenger – except they fail at trying!
The officials heard of the conundrum, went and took their places at the entrance of the LORD’S house.
It is interesting to note that it was the secular sitting in hearing for a case between religious leaders!
“…Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, ‘This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!’
Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: ‘The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.'”
Killing a prophet of God is only adding to the offence. As messengers of the gospel, we do not value our lives more than the blunt message we are sent to proclaim.
Dear friend, the message is simple: “Repent or perish!”
Sunday prayer: Holy Spirit, prompt us to repent of our sins instead of persecuting the messengers. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
May the LORD strengthen and edify the Moderator of the PCC, the Rt. Rev Miki Hans Abia as he and the Synod Clerk, Rev Ayuk Solomon Eta assume full responsibility of their stewardship today. May they be thus equipped so that they can, in turn, strengthen and edify the Christians.