Jer 18:9-10, “And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.”
I was meditating upon these verses with my daughters recently, when one of them asked: “Mummy, haven’t you told us before that GOD does not take back His blessings?”
I told her she was right, for it is written that GOD’s gifts and calling –His blessings- are irrevocable, without repentance (Rom 11:29). By the way, it is useful to notice that the above text does not say that GOD had already built and planted; but rather that He intended to do so.
Why then are we often under the impression that He has taken back His grace or blessings?
Ps 91:1-2, 10-11, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."... 10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
GOD’s presence is a refuge and a fortress; a shield against all forms of misfortune and adversity. Yet, holiness and purity are the essentials of His presence. When we choose not to do what He expects from us, He doesn’t go away –GOD is-, but we are the ones who actually leave His shelter. Whether we realise it or not, every time we disobey or sin, it is as if we are saying: “I have enough of the rules and discipline of this place. I have enough that I am always refrained from doing what I like. I know what I need best and I am going to look for it elsewhere.” Then, we open the door of our will and leave our spiritual bunker.
The Bible tells us that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1Pe 5:8). However, as long as we do GOD’s will, as long as we walk according to the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, we rest in the shadow of the Almighty: we are in a bunker and the devil can prowl as much and long as he wishes, he can’t touch us; he cannot devour us. Satan himself acknowledged that Job served the LORD with integrity because GOD had put a hedge around him, his house and all that he had, on every side (Job 1.9-10a).
The equation is therefore very simple: serve GOD faithfully, do what He asks you to do and you will abide in His presence and take advantage of an unlimited protection and full option insurance cover for yourself, your family and all your possessions.
When you decide on your own accord to become independent; when you decide to listen to another voice and free yourself from the LORD; when you decide to jump off His hedge and leave His cocoon to go and explore all the goodies that the world has to offer, you expose yourself to the one that prowls to steal, kill, destroy and devour. You expose yourself to the enemy of our souls and give all you have for spoil, that is: your gifts and blessings.
So, it is not at all that GOD has changed His mind and decided to take back what He had previously given to us. No. As I said earlier, GOD is Good and He is not surprised by our attitude. He doesn’t bless us because we deserve it, but because He wills it. He knows how we are going to conduct ourselves even before blessing us and yet, He still blesses us. We are the guilty ones: And you, even through yourself, have let go of the inheritance which I gave you (Jer 17.4a).
If this is your situation, you can still fix it. Don’t wait, repent and, like the prodigal son, go back to the safety of GOD’s shelter and presence. He loves you and only wants the best for you.
Have a ‘wonderblessed’ week!
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