Return to me, I will return to you:
3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty. 4 Do not be like your forefathers…” Zechariah 1:3-4
3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty. 4 Do not be like your forefathers…” Zechariah 1:3-4
It’s another year and the lord has graced us to see the same. Looking back at the past year, I see many things that God has done for me and helped me to accomplish as well. I can’t say that it’s my own making or strength but I know it’s the Lord’s doing and I am grateful to him for that. As I start this New Year, I choose to give God all the glory, honour and praise because He deserves it all. I know many of you can stand and testify of the same. Nevertheless, there were also challenges along the way that might have challenged us, made us grow in one way or another and also helped us learn important lessons in life as well. We also have our brothers and sisters whom we lost along the way to sin and other issues of life brought them down. It is not right for us to neglect them – It is time for us to remind them that the Lord still loves them and cares for them despite them having left the faith.
The worst thing that could happen to the people of God is turning away from their God. This is a very unfortunate situation because one who is backsliding puts himself in a very dangerous position. A backslider is like a sheep that strays away from the fold and is vulnerable to many dangers. Those who turn away from God may encounter many dangers and misfortunes in life. Instead of blessings there will be curse and sickness in place of health. They will experience trouble and sorrow; and finally they pass on the curse to the future generations. The history of Israel reveals there were times when people turned away from God and as a result they went through bondage and oppression. It is not a wise thing to turn one’s back on God. One who rebel against God will never find a refuge anywhere. There is no place to hide from God. Prophet Jonah was running away from God and the storm was a result of his disobedience. Finally he was found out even though he was sleeping in the lower deck of the ship. His attempt to run away from God’s presence did not work out. God brought a storm and frustrated his plan.
Whenever the children of Israel strayed away from God, God sent them message through the prophets for them to repent and to return. Even though the Bible says “it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened and then fallen away” Hebrews 6:4, it is better to try than to give up completely because it is very terrible thing to bear the wrath of God. God is merciful and might still have some compassion left. Repentance has caused God’s mercies to come upon those who turned back to him and it saved them from their destructions. Jeremiah 6:3 says, “Return, unfaithful Israel. I will not look on you with anger. For I am unfailing in my love; I will not be angry forever”. Isaiah 55:7 says, “Let the wicked one abandon his way, and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive”. Hosea 14:1, says like this, “Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled in your sin. Take words in [Psalms 145:17 [of repentance] with you and return”. Micah also says, “He does not hold on to His anger forever, because He delights in faithful love He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities.” Micah 7:13.
When we read the bible, we get to see that there is hope for those who have gone astray. This is the main reason why God had to send his only son Jesus Christ to the earth so that He could reconcile us with God our father. The bible says that, “He brings back the captives of Jacob and restores their fortunes.” The Lord will once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem”. Zechariah 1:17. The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel” Psalms 147:2. “Israel will [again] blossom and bud” Isaiah 27:6. When considering the works of the Lord, the scriptures reveal that He is the God of restoration. He always has mercy on His people. "The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Isaiah 59:20 He is a loving God and thus he is always ready to take us back. In Isaiah 1:18, the bible says “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.” If you have strayed away from God and want to come back repent of your backslidings and turn to God with all your heart.
Asking how to Return? The first and most important thing about returning to God is that one should do it with his/her whole heart. “Return to me, I will return to you” Malachi 3:7 It is a promise of God that if you return to God, He will also return to you. Turning away from God is a great sin. Not returning is a greater sin altogether. Hosea 7:10; returning to God is impossible if one doesn’t do it intentionally with the whole of their hearts. The book of Revelation 2:5 tells us to “remember where you have fallen from; Repent and go back to the first love that you have forsaken” David says in Psalms 65:3 that “When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions”. Moses the servant of the Lord prayed for the Israelites “Return O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants. Make us glad according to the days in which you have afflicted us. The years in which we have seen evil” Psalms 90:13, 15 There is the promise of God hearing you and listening to the cry of your heart if you do call upon his name. 1 John 1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” The problem with us is that we make ourselves holy and sinless and thus, we miss the mark.
David reminds us in Psalms 86:5 that God is ready to forgive us. He says “For you, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those that call upon you.” He continues in Psalms 130:7 and says “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for in the Lord there is mercy, and with him is abundant redemption” When one/we return to God with our whole hearts, God will repent/withdraw the evil he brought upon us. We will receive pardon from God. David says that we will find Hope, mercy and redemption." The Lord is calling us to be the stepping stones to revival that he is about to bring upon this nation (Kenya) and the world at large. It will take our initiative to bring back the lost souls and the hearts that are turned away from God back to him and thus, God will start his work amongst us. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 says “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers…”
Is it hard for us to humble ourselves before God and allow him to work on our lives and change the situations around us? It is said, “If you want to see change, then, be the change that you want to see.” I have purposed to allow God to have his own way this year. May the Lord help us this year to be instruments of change in our respective societies and touch many lives all for his glory. We Must Decide to Return to God and Reaffirm Our Commitment to Him.
Amen!!
Amen!!
