Jeremiah 15  It is hard to read of God's judgement on Judah.. He is sending His beloved people away.. "Those destined for death, to death; and those destined for the sword, to the sword; and those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity to captivity ."  He appointed "doom" for them because of the sin that they would not turn away from.  "You who have forsaken Me.. You keep going backward. So I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I am tired of relenting!" (v6)

The people "did not repent of their ways.. " therefore..  " a fire has been kindled in My anger, it will burn upon you.. " He told them.  

The book of Revelation reminds us that there is another fire.. a "lake that burns with fire and brimstone".. which is for the "cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars.. " (21:8)  Our God is a "consuming fire".. and His wrath will be poured out once again as it was on Judah.  

It is a stark reality that what happened back in that day.. to Judah.. paints a clear picture of what will happen to all the earth one day..  We know that there are many who refuse to hear the call to repentance.. "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"  John the Baptist preached.  It was the message that Jesus came to proclaim and to give His life for...  He drank the cup of God's wrath.. that we might be saved from the fire of His anger.. that we might repent and be forgiven and kept from the destiny of doom that we all deserve..

Jeremiah once again turns to prayer.. "Thou who knows, O Lord, Remember me, take notice of me.. "  And God answers with such grace.. "If you return, then I will restore you - Before Me you will stand.. " God promises to save.. to deliver.. and to redeem the one who returns to Him. 

Father in heaven, again we are reminded that sin produces death and pain.. that Your anger burns against those who refuse to repent.. refuse to believe.. and refuse to return to You.  Father, let the message of the gospel be proclaimed across our land.. that more people will hear and understand that the only way to life is through repenting and returning to You.  May the reality of certain judgement.. a destiny of death, captivity, war, and destruction belongs to those who refuse to bow before You.  May we not fail to warn and speak up about these truths in our effort to be politically correct.. for we will be as guilty as the priests and leaders in Judah who proclaimed peace when there was no peace coming.  Send out the message again.. "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near!"  Let Jesus Christ be made known among the peoples of the earth we pray. Amen.