Day 139

Too Late

Read: 2 Chronicles 33-34

Manasseh was especially wicked. “He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger” (33:6). In both the Old Testament and the New, we read of God’s love and of his wrath. Many churches today do not mention God’s wrath, thus distorting the biblical message. Sin fills God with righteous indignation. He punishes it with the severity it deserves.

When brought into captivity in Assyria, Manasseh repented; and God in his mercy brought him back to Jerusalem. Although he undid some of his wickedness, the evil he had done produced so much rotten fruit in the lives of the people that it was now too late. Amon, the son of Manasseh, worshiped the idols of his father and he did not repent, thus sealing the fate of the nation.

Amon’s son Josiah sought God from childhood. How much better to be godly from childhood than to do much wickedness and then later repent! We are sometimes impressed by the conversion stories of people who have lived in wickedness. Praise God for his grace in saving them! But how much more wonderful when the Holy Spirit causes someone to be born again at an early age. Our constant prayer should be that this take place in the lives of many. Josiah learns of God’s Word, but it is too late for the nation—Judah is doomed.

PRAYER
Father, we pray for our nation, that there be national repentance before it is too late. In Christ. Amen.