March 30, 2024

March 30th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
Luke 19:38-48 (The Triumphant Entry)
“How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you. – Luke 19:42-44 (NLT)
“The Tipping Point”

God’s grace is relentless and is always there for the asking. That’s why even the thief on the cross was able to be granted forgiveness and assurance that he would join Jesus in Paradise. That means that any of us, at any time, no matter where we are or what we have done, can turn to God and find grace that is greater than all our sin.
However, that grace doesn’t undo the consequences of our sins. The thief still had to pay his debt to society by being executed for his crimes. It didn’t undo the pain he inflicted upon the lives of people he stole from or hurt or killed. The dominoes still fall—even if you’re really sad that you knocked them over.
Today’s passage is a sobering one. As Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, there’s a great sadness for Him. He realizes that the Jews have crossed a tipping point. They have become so corrupt and hardened toward God that they won’t turn back. Even as God Himself comes riding into their midst, they can’t see Him. Their minds are made up. Their hearts are hardened. The protective hand of God has been removed, and now they will suffer for their sin. Jesus’ prophecy here is a sobering one. In just 40 years the city of Jerusalem will be attacked, and the beautiful city of God will be torn down. The city whose name means “peace” will be anything but peace. It will be a city of chaos and ruin.
This story reminds us why it is so important to keep our hearts tender toward God. When He speaks, we need to listen. When He warns, we need to heed. When God corrects us, we need to receive and embrace that correction. Ignoring God leads to not hearing God. Conviction of sin that goes unrepented becomes callousness to the Spirit of God. If we follow that track long enough, we too reach a tipping point of no return. And even if we finally have a moment of clarity that allows us to repent and find forgiveness, we may find we’ve left ruins that can’t be rebuilt and falling dominoes that we can’t stop. Seek God while He may still be found. Don’t wait until you’ve crossed the tipping point. That’s God’s Word for you today.