What modern behaviors reflect the denial seen in Jeremiah 5:12? How to address them? Setting the Scene Jeremiah 5:12: “They have lied about the LORD and said, ‘It is not He. No harm will come to us. We will see neither sword nor famine.’” The people dismissed God’s warnings, convinced judgment would never reach them. That same spirit shows up in twenty-first-century life in ways that can slip under the radar. Modern Parallels of Denial • Casual “it’s all good” attitude toward sin • Mocking or dismissing any talk of divine judgment (2 Peter 3:3-4) • Moral relativism—“my truth, your truth” instead of God’s truth (Isaiah 5:20) • Prosperity-only gospel that promises blessing but ignores repentance (Jeremiah 23:17) • Overconfidence in technology, science, or government to solve every problem (Psalm 20:7) • Entertainment saturation that dulls spiritual sensitivity (Ephesians 5:15-16) • Universalism—assuming everyone is automatically headed to heaven (Matthew 7:13-14) • Redefining biblical sexuality and marriage without fear of consequences (Romans 1:24-27) • Nationalism that treats one’s country as untouchable by God’s discipline (Obadiah 3-4) • Churchgoers who equate membership or tradition with immunity from judgment (Revelation 3:17) Consequences of Turning a Deaf Ear • Hardened hearts grow incapable of hearing truth (Zechariah 7:11-12) • Sin snowballs, inviting personal and societal breakdown (Proverbs 14:34) • False security is shattered when crisis hits (1 Thessalonians 5:3) • God’s name is dishonored among unbelievers (Romans 2:24) • Missed opportunity for revival and blessing (2 Chronicles 7:14) Biblical Steps to Address Denial 1. Hold up the mirror of Scripture. • Hebrews 4:12—God’s Word “judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” 2. Preach the full counsel: grace and judgment. • Acts 20:27—Paul withheld nothing. 3. Cultivate holy fear and reverence. • Proverbs 1:7—“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” 4. Embrace corporate confession and repentance. • Daniel 9 models standing in the gap for a nation. 5. Equip believers for discernment. • 1 John 4:1—“Test the spirits.” 6. Live transparently in accountable community. • James 5:16—“Confess your sins to one another.” 7. Keep watch in prayer and readiness. • Luke 21:34-36—don’t let hearts be weighed down by “carousing and the anxieties of life.” 8. Demonstrate hopeful obedience. • Titus 2:11-13—God’s grace trains us “to live sensible, righteous, and godly lives… while we wait for the blessed hope.” Living with Hope and Vigilance Denying the possibility of judgment feels comfortable, but it empties the gospel of urgency. A better path is to treasure God’s warnings as proof of His love, repent quickly, and walk in joyful obedience, confident that “the LORD is good; His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 100:5). |
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