HOSEA 6:1-3: “Let’s return to the LORD. Even though he has torn us to pieces, he will heal us. Even though he has wounded us, he will bandage our wounds. After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us so that we may live in his presence. Let’s learn about the LORD. Let’s get to know the LORD. He will come to us as sure as the morning comes. He will come to us like the autumn rains and the spring rains that water the ground.” (GW)
OBSERVATION: Is it too late for me? Have I failed so many times that God will reject me, even if I turn to Him in sincere repentance? The enemy of our souls would always like to convince us that we are beyond the pale of God’s redemption. The enemy’s entire strategy is to get us to give up. Yet, the Lord has given us this powerful promise,
- “Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you’ll harvest. If you plant in ⌊the soil of⌋ your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in ⌊the soil of⌋ your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. We can’t allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive ⌊everlasting life⌋ at the proper time, if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:7-9 GW)
The Lord wants us to produce a harvest of faith, hope, and love in our lives. The enemy of our souls wants us to produce a harvest of doubt, hopelessness, and strife. There is a time between the planting of the seed and the harvest that we all have a choice to make. Will we return to the Lord, will we wait for the promise of His blessing – or will we lose heart and give up?
Jesus made it very clear – “A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.” (John 10:10 GW). There are always two forces at work, and we always have a choice. Even though Israel and Judah had made the wrong choices – the mercy and grace of God was still extended to them.
- “Let’s return to the LORD. Even though he has torn us to pieces, he will heal us. Even though he has wounded us, he will bandage our wounds. After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us so that we may live in his presence.”
Yet, this call to return to the Lord was not simply to repent. It was also a call to engage!
- “Let’s learn about the LORD. Let’s get to know the LORD. He will come to us as sure as the morning comes. He will come to us like the autumn rains and the spring rains that water the ground.”
And so Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, echoes this same sentiment.
- “We can’t allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive ⌊everlasting life⌋ at the proper time, if we don’t give up.”
So are you discouraged? Do you think it is too late for you? Do you think you have crossed the line of no return? If you are even asking these questions – the answering is a resounding NO! God’s love and mercy are calling you to return and to engage! He has promised that,
- “…after two days He will revive us (you), and on the third day He will raise us (you) up so that we (you) may live in His presence.”
Don’t listen to the enemy’s lies. The Father is running toward you with open arms. Like the prodigal son, return to Him! Cling to Him! Learn of Him! He will forgive, cleanse, and restore you!
The Father loves you with an everlasting love!
In Jesus Name!
