All of God's guidance must be heeded with the utmost attention, for He does not speak in vain. The Lord takes every opportunity to instruct us on how we should be and act. In this text from Jeremiah, God teaches that we cannot learn the ways of the nations, who, because they do not know Him, do not understand the right path they must follow to live a blameless life (John 14:6).

The prophet wrote a message to the inhabitants of Judah, who did not understand how to serve the Creator of all things. They had given themselves over to mysticism and no longer had the Lord's protection. The faith that their ancestors had professed had been abandoned by the new generation, which was setting aside the worship of the one God. This would bring them the worst problems, for they would return to captivity!

Today, many do not understand why so many bad things happen, nor do they know how to act. Under the influence of materialism, in search of prosperity, a happy marriage, and other achievements, they are turning to or returning to pagan religious practices. However, the further they stray from God, the further they are from divine blessings. People have never been so thirsty for the Truth as they are now!

The path of nations where the Gospel is neither known nor lived out is full of suffering. On this path, the Truth is never mentioned; therefore, worse days are expected. Where the light of the Gospel does not shine, people live in dense darkness, and no matter how hard they try to improve their lives, nothing happens. The things that come from above are received by faith attained by listening to the Word (Romans 10:17).

The path of the nations is winding, for it adjusts to what happens on a daily basis; however, God's path is straight and never changes to favor those who do not want to have Him as their Lord and submit to His will. The Scriptures declare: When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  (Mark 8:34). The obedient will always be rewarded with love!

As for the signs of the heavens, we should not worry. Mystics and unbelievers are terrified by the phenomena that precede Christ's return (Matthew 24:29-31). They do not want to submit to the heavenly Father, so they do not see these events as a reason to seek Him and obtain salvation. To be redeemed, one need only accept Jesus as Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9). Then one will receive the power to become a child of God (John 1:12).

Those who are saved by Christ should not be afraid of the signs that will appear in the heavens, but should remain in communion with God, purifying themselves from all sin and living by faith in the presence of the Most High (Revelation 22:11). Nothing should fill you with fear if you already have the Holy Spirit dwelling in your heart. You are saved!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares