A common pattern many of us believers are guilty of falling in to, is when we are reading our bibles and we come across certain verses that sound a tad unsettling, we tend to just keep reading and give little thought or attention to it.

Or even worse, maybe we do stop and ‘camp out’ there, study and break it down, look up various versions and translations, highlight it and even memorize it with the help of posting ‘sticky notes’ on our bathroom mirror with it written out. But when we fail to actually take it to heart, apply it or walk it out, then we deceive ourselves. (James 1:22)

Take a statement made by Peter in his first letter for example. I bet I could begin quoting it…and you could finish saying it. It’s found in chapter 4:17 and says:

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

I’m guessing the first word that catches your attention is that word ‘judgement’. We really don’t care much for that word as we are always reminding ourselves that God is a ‘God of mercy, and not judgement’ and we are ‘not supposed to judge’ as all kinds of bad vibes come with that word. And unfortunately, so many sincere believers have been led to believe that because they ‘repeated a prayer’ and ‘accepted Christ’, that they are somehow immune from any ‘judgement’ or ‘wrath’ or any of those other ‘bad things’ often associated with that word. That is as misguided as thinking that a judge’s child is immune from traffic citations or worse… if/when they break the law.

But before we delve off in to that aspect, let’s back up a few words and underline when this time of judgement takes place. Please note, that it does not say judgment “is coming” or it’s “going to come”; rather it says “The time has come”, as in, it’s here now.

This would be echoed by Paul in the opening of his letter to the Romans where he stated: “The wrath of God IS…revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…” (1:18). Again, he did not say ‘is coming’ or ‘it’s gonna come’; he states it is here now. That is not to say a day won’t come when it will be even more harsh and severe because scripture does indeed suggest this fact. 

And when Peter wrote his statement, he did not point his finger suggesting God was about to ‘get all those sinner folks in the world who live wickedly’, he states He is going to ‘clean house’ first within the ‘church’. This is not a new practice with God either.

Did anyone also catch that ‘four-letter word’ at the end that suggest it is not going to be a pretty scene for those who don’t “obey” the gospel? Let me assure you, there is more to ‘obeying the gospel’ besides just saying you ‘believe Jesus is the Son of God’, too. You might also make note of 2 Thess. 1:8.

But this idea of ‘judgment beginning in the ‘house of God’…, have you ever given much thought as to what that even looks like or how it plays out? As I said a moment ago, this is not a new practice with God.

I’ve been spending some time reading the book of Jeremiah and before anyone suggest I ought to stay out of the OT, it was Peter himself who tells us we should be ‘mindful of the words spoken before by the holy prophets’ reminding us they have ‘spoken and foretold of these days’. (2 Pet. 3:2; Acts 3:24). And given what we learn from the book of Jeremiah, it stands to reason why Peter warned about judgement coming first to the ‘house of God’ before it comes on the rest of the world.

In a nutshell, God was preparing to deal severely with the nation of Israel and Judah for their constant backsliding, rebellion, and sinful ways. And He was going to use the Babylonians to carry out His judgment; as in use the enemy to carry out His wrath. Once again, this is not a new practice with God. But not only does God warn about the destruction of Jerusalem and how the temple will be destroyed and the people taken into captivity for 70 years by the Babylonians, we also read at the close of those 52 chapters what God was going to then do to Babylon. (50-51) 

Can I just tell you now that God uses the ‘enemy’ today to carry out His wrath and judgements; and we know who that ‘enemy’ is, yes? And we also know that a day is coming when God will put a final end to Satan and his demon angels as God has prepared a place for them.(Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10)

In the meantime, God uses, permits, or ‘allows’…, however you want to describe it, for Satan and his minions to ‘roam about as a roaring lion seeking to devour’. The are the ‘instruments of His indignation’ that we read about in Jeremiah 50:25; Isaiah 13:5 and Ps. 78:49. IF this is the first time you have made this connection, I understand why it would be quite troublesome for you to read. But the good news is…God has provided a shelter or place of refuge and protection from them. It is “In Him” that we find this place of rest where the enemy cannot touch us. (1 John 5:18; Deut. 12:10; Prov. 16:7)

IF…the enemy is…’touching you’, it is either because you are not abiding in Christ and the wrath of God remains on you, (John 3:36) or…God is using the enemy to ‘chasten you’ which is not a pleasant thing, but God does ‘chasten those whom He loves’ and he uses the enemy as well to carry this out. (Heb. 12:5-14; Habakkuk 1:12; John 5:14). Oh, by the way, it was Paul who points back to this chapter in Hab. to warn us in the church. You can read that in Acts 13:40.

It's important to understand that God means what He says, He gave us His law to be obeyed, and He paid a great price in offering up His only beloved Son to ensure that we could indeed fulfill this law if we would turn to Jesus and trust Him, obey Him, and love God with all our hearts. IF…we were to do this and begin following Him in obedience, then all the righteous requirements of the law would be fully met in us because that is what Christ came to do. (Rom. 8:4; 2:13). So when we ‘neglect so great a salvation’, we do indeed provoke God to anger, just like His people in the past always did. Paul was hoping we’d learn from their examples. (1 Cor. 10:4-11)

So when we read through Jeremiah, there is much truth we can glean. You might just start out reading the first few verses in chapter 7 and make note of where God instructed Jeremiah to go: “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house and proclaim there this word…” (2). The whole chapter is insightful, as is the opening 8 chapters. But remember, we are studying this idea that judgement begins where first, according to Peter?

Just a couple of quick mentions from those chapters in Jeremiah for now. Interestingly, we read where God states: “My people are foolish, they have not know Me. They are silly children and have no understanding. (4:22). A couple of modern versions use the word ‘stupid’. But let’s stay with the word ‘foolish’ given we see that used repeatedly by Jesus in the parable of the ten virgins (Matt. 25:1-3) and the story of the builders who built on rock and sand describing the ‘wise man’ as the one who ‘did what the word said’ as opposed to the ‘foolish’ man who ‘heard the word, but did not put it in to practice’. (Matt. 7:24-27)

So why all the need to bring up all this talk of judgment? Well, look what God spoke to Jeremiah: “My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.” (8:7). Does that not even puzzle or concern us to think we, of all people, could somehow be clueless to something so serious? You might go read Isaiah 42:23-25 along with Hosea 7:9 where we see this is not a new thing, God’s people being unaware as to how God brings judgment. (Jer. 5:4-5). ( I sure hope you take the time to look up these verses)

But please make note of, and even underline Jer. 3:9 where it is pointed out the indifference the people had towards sin. The NKJV uses the expression ‘casual harlotry’. It is not uncommon to see where God is often using the term ‘adultery’ or ‘harlotry’ to describe His people’s unfaithfulness. I mean, He does tell us straight up the second commandment that He is a jealous God and will visit the iniquities of the children to the 3rd and 4th generation for provoking Him to anger in such fashion. I’m guessing anyone who has ever been betrayed in such a manner by a spouse can identify with such an anger as well.

Where this becomes even more relevant to us today is what we read in our NT’s regarding the same thing…how God can view our indifference to sin as spiritual harlotry or adultery. Need some scriptural evidence to support that? Go look at what James had to say about those who were living a double-minded life, ‘blessing God but cursing their neighbor’ (James 3:9). James reprimands them saying that both fresh water and salt water cannot come from the same spring. (3:11). And for those who think they can continue to live as a ‘friend to the world’ are hostile towards God, making themselves an enemy to God and James flat out calls them “adulterers and adulteress’. (4:4)

There really is much more to address on this subject and I will pick up on this soon. May miss a day or two here due to some travels. But please, please, please…take some time and study these passages out. I’ve been on vacation this week with family and yet every morning, I’m compelled to rise early and spend time sharing here with what I hear and read the scriptures making known to us in this time. We just need to ‘tap the brakes’ and be still and allow the Holy Spirit to confirm these things, whether there be any truth here or not. (Acts 17:11)  I would make the case the hour and need is serious and urgent.