“So just as I destroyed Shiloh, I will now destroy this Temple that was built to honor my name, this Temple that you trust for help, this place that I have to you and your ancestors.” Jeremiah 7:14
In Jeremiah 7:14, we see that the people of Judah placed their trust in the temple, a physical place that once held tabernacle. The Judahites went to the temple for forgiveness and cleansing and yet their hearts were far from God, the real source of redemption. God soon took the temple away from the Judahites and then they had no where to turn.
Where do we turn for forgiveness and redemption? If you trust a church or a pastor to receive forgiveness, the Lord may take you away from this church or pastor, particularly if they have become idols. We can sometime see these conduits of God’s Word and teaching as our god. I appreciate my church and its pastors but only God is worthy of my worship. Our pastors can help us understand God and direct us away from our sins but our faith needs to rest in God and not be dependent on a church or a pastor.
Scripture and prayer provide the personal insight into God’s will and direct us how to live a life pleasing to God. It is only by turning to the cross of Christ and repenting of our sins that we are cleansed. Place your trust in the only one who will not leave you – the only one capable of cleansing you of your sins – our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 43:25 “I – yes, I alone – am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. “
