“Now after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ‘Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned.’” – Jeremiah 36:27-28
Refusing to listen to God’s word doesn’t make it less true. Hating God’s word won’t stop His promises from coming true. Trying to destroy God’s word won’t prevent Him from preserving it for all mankind. The Bible is God’s inerrant, infallible word and nothing can stop it from spreading, though people certainly have tried over the centuries. The Bible will endure every effort to silence or suppress it.
Judah’s king hated the message God gave about him through Jeremiah. Rather than repent and change his evil ways, the king simply tried to destroy the book of Jeremiah. That accomplished nothing. God’s judgment is both perfectly just and inevitable. Each person has only two options: 1) reject God’s word and experience His judgment, or 2) embrace God’s Word, repent of their sins, and call on the Lord’s mercy in the name of Jesus. The wise will do the latter. The proud will do the former.
How do you respond when God’s word points out your remaining sins and shortcomings? Is it with a tender heart of repentance? Or do you try to explain away, excuse, defend yourself, rage, or resist God’s will and word? Let God’s word probe your soul every day, like a doctor probing an infected wound. Respond with life-altering conviction and confession whenever God’s Spirit uses His word to reveal a part of your life, heart, or character that doesn’t yet look like Jesus. #FollowJesus