God allowed Babylonians to subdue the nations of Israel and Judah due to their sins; however, the Creator promised to restore the two nations because they repented. God stated he would restore Israel and Judah, but punish the Babylonians that have taken their advantage. God said through Jeremiah,
“In those days and in that time,” says the Lord, “The children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; with continual weeping they shall come, and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces toward it, saying, ‘Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord In a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten.’ “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; they have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place. All who found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, ‘We have not offended, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, the Lord, the hope of their fathers.’ “Move from the midst of Babylon, go out of the land of the Chaldeans; and be like the rams before the flocks. For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country, And they shall array themselves against her; from there she shall be captured. Their arrows shall be like those of an expert warrior; none shall return in vain” (Jeremiah 50:4-9).
Lesson:
God is God of love and mercy; he will forgive any sinner who repents from his/her sins. Indeed, sin opens doors for enemies to oppress God’s children, but once they exercise repentance, those doors would be shut. God will restore his children who return to him in good term. He will cleanse a sinner with the blood of his Son Jesus Christ. God will reward a repentant sinner with the gift of eternal life in heaven! Meanwhile, an unrepentant sinner has missed the opportunity of forgiveness and restoration; he can not see God at the end of his life journey. (A person who rejects salvation of Jesus Christ is regarded as a sinner, and he/she will not enter heaven). Only those who have confessed their sins, and declared Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will meet God in heaven. Hence, all people are encouraged to repent from their sins and confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, so that they can be saved.
Prayer:
Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner; I have sinned before you, and I am not worthy to be called your child. However, today, I repent from my sins. I confess them, and I repent from them. From now on, I will give you my complete life, and I will serve you throughout the days of my life. Please write my name in the book of life, and count me worthy to reign with you in heaven. For in the name of your only Son Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.
