GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. Micah 7:18-19; 2 Kings 17:8-26.

I read good news and bad news this morning: In Micah 7, the prophet praises God for His mercy:

“Who is a God like You, removing sin and passing over rebellion? … He does not hold on to His anger forever, because HE DELIGHTS IN FAITHFUL LOVE. He will have compassion on us. You will cast our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19.

That is amazing, and we should always be grateful for God’s mercy.

But He is also a God of Judgment. What you plant is what you will harvest. Consider 2 Kings 17—

Israel sinned. They lived like the lost people around them. (We do that, don’t we? If an alien landed on earth, would he be able to tell that your life is not like the lives of the lost people? What is different about you?)

“Israel lived according to the customs of the nations God had defeated around them… They secretly did what was not right against the Lord their God…. They would not listen, but became obstinate… THEY PURSUED WORTHLESS IDOLS AND BECAME WORTHLESS THEMSELVES.” 2 Kings 17:8-15.

Note that—You will become like the thing that you worship. Make sure you worship THE RIGHT THING. The passage reports the Assyrians had taken over Israel:

“They did not fear Yahweh. So the Lord sent lions among them, which killed some of them…because the people don’t know the requirements of the God of the land” 2 Kings 17:25-26.

The lions were so bad the idol-worshipping king of Assyria had to find an Israelite priest to send home to Israel to teach the Assyrian settlers how to follow God so God would stop the lions from slaughtering them.

God is merciful, but God will not tolerate idol worship. Check your heart: what is on your throne? You? Your goals? Your friends? Your free time? Your entertainment? Your insecurities? Remove these idols from the throne of your heart. Give God your WHOLE HEART. Ask Him to show you anything that needs to change.

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