No U-Turns Allowed
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done." But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
Romans 2:5-6
Those who reject God’s truth are those who have had the opportunity to know the truth but have rejected it; instead, they have chosen to live by Satan’s lies. These people have made a U-turn, turning from the ways of God to the ways of the world. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:4).
We will look at the parable of the sower in Matthew chapter 13 which reveals why people do not receive the truth, but reject it.
As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up (Matthew 13:4). When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart (Matthew 13:19).
Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root (Matthew 13:5). The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. (Matthew 13:20-21).
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants (Matthew 13:7). The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful (Matthew 13:22).
Jesus tells us in this scripture the reason that people receive the truth yet make a U-turn from God to the world. The causes are: (1) Lack of understanding; when people don’t take the time to read the Word and seek understanding, impatience and lack of Christian support usually causes them to abandon the Word; (2) Trouble or persecution comes, and fear from Satan drives people inward and away from God. These people have not obtained faith to trust God in all situations, so when trouble comes they make a U-turn from God and return to depending solely on themselves; (3) Worries and seeking things of the world; the business of obtaining and achieving things in this life crowds out time for God, time for prayer, bible study, and worship. These people have made a U-Turn away from God and may not even know it.
From the parable of the sower, Jesus describes three reasons people turn from the truth, and turn instead to whatever pleases the flesh and their itching ears. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). People who fall away from the truth are influenced by the world, through people they associate with, false teachers, worldly books, and sometimes from their own experiences.
Today don’t let Satan deceive you into making a U-turn toward the world. Also, be alert for signs that other Christians may be starting a U-turn, and recognize where they might fall in the parable of the sower.
Let’s Pray: Lord, guide me each day toward my eternal home and keep Satan from leading me to making a U-turn. Motivate me to overcome temptations and to serve you with a heart driven by your love and compassion. Thank you for your love, for protecting my soul, and for guiding me through life to my eternal home. In Jesus’ name, Amen