“Moreover, all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee” (Deuteronomy 28:45).
TEXT — Deuteronomy 28:45-57
Message
One of the world’s most expensive abandoned projects is the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea. Dominating the skyline of Pyongyang like a towering sentinel, the hotel was envisioned as a symbol of North Korean prestige and modernity. Construction began in 1987 but halted in the early 1990s due to economic crises and engineering challenges. Rising to a staggering 105 stories, this colossal structure remains unfinished, a ghostly testament to the ambition of a bygone era. With an estimated cost exceeding $750 million, this white elephant project was a monumental loss.
Moses, acting on God’s instruction, spoke plainly in describing the details of the calamities that would befall the Israelites if they walked away from God’s word. In that case, God threatened that they would be abandoned. They would go into servitude to other nations who would afflict them with grievous bondage. They would be besieged and subjected to such famine that would warrant them losing their filial affection as to eat the flesh of their children for survival. Unfortunately, the Jews did not heed the warnings. By their flagrant disobedience to God, they walked into these devastating experiences. With time, the awful predictions were literally fulfilled. Their country was not only besieged but also ravaged and they went into captivity in Babylon for seventy years and, again, Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.
To think that a nation so beloved of God as Israel would suffer such a fate is sobering. It underscores the fact that God is not a respecter of persons. He favours and rewards those who sincerely seek Him; those who forsake him run the risk of being forsaken by Him. Moreover, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). He is a jealous God who justifiably tolerates no rivalry. God deserves total commitment and obedience from us. You cannot serve Him and Mammon or other “gods”.
As you reflect on this issue, it is important to consider your present commitment to the Lord. Are you drawing closer to Him or drifting away from Him? It is a dangerous gamble to live in disobedience to God’s word or to walk away from Him.
Thought for the day
If you want to arrive safely and on time, adopt God’s pace.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
Leave a Reply