There are no Miranda Rights in Heaven

I’ve spent considerable time in the Word of God, especially since caring for my Mother who has dementia. The greatest blessing of staying with her is the time I get to spend in the Word, uninterrupted by what was my life before this stage. I love and adore my family… but they are loud, and distracting, and it’s not that I am not so grateful for them, but we are called to be a people of study. 2 Timothy 2:15 says: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” So, staying with Mother gives me time for quiet.

For the time being I am in the book of Jeremiah. The weeping prophet, who makes no bones about the truth when it comes to telling Israel what God is revealing to His people. God has advised and chastised, but He will not mirandize; because we have no rights before God outside of His Son Jesus Christ.

There is no excuse nor justification for sin

God had provided prophets, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, to give messages of truth to the people of Israel. But they chose not to listen. And when Jeremiah wouldn’t shut up about what God says, they imprisoned him. And when he sent another preacher out to deliver the Word of God to the people and their leaders, the King didn’t like it.

Jeremiah 36:5-7
And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD: [6] Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD’S house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. [7] It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.

So Jeremiah’s servant did just that. He sent his servant Baruch with the words God had given him to read in the house of the Lord. But the church’s reaction wasn’t one of “Thank you brother for that word of advice.” But rather than listen to the Words of God, they sought the opinion of the hierarchy of men. When Michaiah heard it, who was in the house of the Lord when Baruch read the scroll, he took that information to the princes and scribes to see what they had to say about. So they told Baruch to go and hide himself and Jeremiah and they put the scroll in the chamber of the scribe. They then told the King what had been read. So the King sent for the scroll, and as he heard the words read, the King took out a knife, cut the pages and threw the scroll in the fire.

When I read those words my heart sank. How could anyone take the word of God and destroy it? But I then think of our world today. They are doing their best to get rid of the word of God, they have removed it from schools, they don’t read it in their home and they promote as much as possible lifestyles and behaviors that go against the word of God. Is there any difference in the disrespect of our modern society than there was in the King who threw the scroll in the fire?

There is No Escaping Sins Penalty

So, sin separates us from the Lord and brings judgement upon the sinner, or collectively as a nation, even if you’re not directly involved. I have no doubt that there were Israelites who didn’t agree with the Kings behavior. And there was obviously still some good people because Jeremiah sent a word from God to the Rechabites who were descendants of Moses’ father in law. They were proselytes (converted to Judaism) who practiced what they preached. When Jeremiah offered them wine, they informed him that they didn’t drink because God had told them not to. So these were an obedient people and known for it. They lived in tents, as did their ancestors, not subscribing to the worldliness of a house. They did not take the word lightly. So God tells them that their blood line will continue. God tells us very much the same thing.

Those who accept the crucifixion of Christ as sacrifice and payment for sin and are believing every word of God, you have the promise of eternal life. God will never turn you away. But that’s not to say you won’t have trouble in your life. You are surrounded by a world of sin, for which you should be the example of God. But just because you are a child of God, doesn’t mean you can stand in a house burning down around you and not get burnt. Sin’s penalty has many innocent victims. And sometimes, God tells you to get out of that place of fire, and get yourself to safety.

Jeremiah 36:3 KJV
It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

God gave Israel a chance. But when they heard the word of God spoken, some feared, some spoke out for the King not to burn it (Jeremiah 36:25) but the King did it anyway and judgement came on all of Israel.

There is no Way to Avoid Judgement (or is there?)

Judgement came in the form of Babylon captivity. No longer was there any heirs to the throne from that king’s bloodline. But what about the guys who tried to stop the king from burning the scroll. Judgement fell on them too. And so long as we in America continue to allow our leaders and citizens to mock God, Judgement is gonna come upon us. God has allowed so many blessings in America. I believe that he continues allowing some of them because there is still a remnant of God’s people that try their best to stand strong. They have a relationship with the Lord. Do you?

Do you read His word, pray to Him and speak with Him as you would a great leader that chooses to allow you to be His close friend? You would be so honored if any national leader of your choosing chose to bring you into their immediate circle of friends. Well, the Creator of the Universe, sent you an invitation through the word of God. Did you meet Him when He invited you… or did you just put it back in the envelope and to wait until later to open it.

Later may never come.

Praise God for the mercy that awaits us in Heaven and travels along with us in the form of the Holy Spirit, allowing us to converse with God for direction in this world. I believe that one of the reasons the King threw the word of God into the fire was because he knew that the word had power, or Satan knew and coerced him to do it. The word says in James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

God spared the Rechabites because they were obedient. And although we will all stand before God, we will not stand before Him in judgement of sin, but rather to answer for what we’ve done as a child of God and for His Kingdom. How we handled His Word, and His wisdom that He provided to us? And the only way to get there, instead of the great White Throne Judgement, which is were all sinners who have not accepted Christ will stand to face Judgement for their unforgiven sins, is to have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Understand that you could do nothing worthy of getting yourself into Heaven and serve Him to the best of your ability.

I pray you know Him.