Jdg 3:7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.

The book of Judges centres on these three events: Sin, Judgment, and Deliverance. The children of Israel sinned and departed from the worship of Jehovah. God sent enemies to afflict and oppress them. They cried to God and He sent judges (deliverers) to deliver them. Thereafter, they enjoyed few decades of faithfulness. But when the judges died, they went back to their old ways.

“And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves” (Judges 3:7). The children of Israel never seemed to learn. They reached out to God whenever they were in trouble. But as soon as their trouble was over, they returned to the worship of the false gods of the people around them.

Habits die hard. Like a leopard that cannot change its spots, so the natural man tends towards sin. Spiritual growth does not come naturally; it requires effort. That’s why the Bible uses the word “strive” when it refers to spiritual matters. Our Lord says: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (Luke 13:24).

The “strait” gate is the narrow gate. It is as we used to say, the straight and narrow way. Matthew says the way is narrow (Matthew 7:14). The word “strives” literally means “to agonize”, thus conveying a sense of struggle. The language implies therefore, that not just effort, but agonizing effort, is necessary for one to enter heaven. Many want to go to heaven but they do not “strive”. Therefore, because they will not agonize, they fail to get in.

The wide gate and broad way is easy to travel (Matthew 7:13). It requires no special effort. It is following the crowd. It is giving in to the sinful passion. There is no need for self-control or checking with the word of God. It is a life of eat, drink, and be merry (Luke 12:19). There is no one to answer to; everything is purely self-seeking pleasure.

Many seem to forget that there will be a final judgment waiting for them (Hebrews 9:27). Some absolutely do not want God in their lives, not in this world, and neither in the next. Many think that besides heaven, there is an alternative place where God and Christians aren’t there. They will realize too late that the alternative place is eternal damnation (Luke 16:22-24).

Unlike the Israelites in the times of Judges in which each time they fell into sin, God sent judgment and followed by a deliverer, there is no second chance for sinners today. God has already sent His Deliverer. That Deliverer is Jesus Christ: “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).

Still, like the Israelites, many Christians after having tasted the goodness of God, have forgotten about Him and returned to a life of unbelief and sin. The Scriptures says there is no more Deliverer for them but a terrible judgment awaits them (Hebrews 10:26-27). The grace of God that brought salvation has already appeared unto all men (Titus 2:10). The next thing that is coming to the world will be the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Brethren, we have been delivered from the penalty of sin by the blood of Christ (Romans 6:23). Let us not be like Israel and fall into sin again. Heaven is for those who will walk the straight and narrow way. Let us henceforth, “go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

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