If Only

“James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings!” (James 1:1)

Every student of the Bible knows why God exiled His chosen people from the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For centuries(!) Israel mocked God’s laws and killed His prophets. The 106^th psalm is only one of the very many Old Testament passages to detail their continued sacrilege.

2 Chronicles synthesizes their history of rebellion to only a few verses: “The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; ¹⁶ but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy.” (2 Chronicles 36:15-16)

James’ note to God’s chosen ones is not insignificant. First, the twelve tribes of Israel were not lost – as some teach. James knew where Israel had been scattered and where they were living. And second, he sent them ‘greetings’ in the name of Jesus the Messiah.

In other words, God was continuing – even to this present hour – to offer His people an opportunity to repent, to turn from their sins, and to come back into His fold.

And so here is the point for you and me in 2019: Since God was, and is, willing to forgive their millennia-long rebellions and willful sins if only they would repent . . . God is no less willing to forgive you and me of even a lifetime of rebellions and willful sins.

If only – oh, if only we will repent, turn from our sins, and determine for the rest of our lives to obey Jesus’ commandments.