Substitutes & penalties!

Isaiah2:6

You, Lord, have abandoned your people,

the descendants of Jacob.

They are full of superstitions from the East;

they practice divination like the Philistines

and embrace pagan customs.

7 Their land is full of silver and gold;

there is no end to their treasures.

Their land is full of horses;

there is no end to their chariots.

8 Their land is full of idols;

they bow down to the work of their hands,

to what their fingers have made.

9 So people will be brought low

and everyone humbled—

do not forgive them.

10 Go into the rocks, hide in the ground

from the fearful presence of the Lord

and the splendour of his majesty!

11 The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled

and human pride brought low;

the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

Have you noticed how eastern practices and foreign gods have become very popular in the western world.

Even in the little town where we live there was a large poster advertising Tai Chi lessons.

After all the blessings that the Lord gave to this country through faith in Jesus, other gods have become more alluring - including "work" and humanism.

The consequences of forgetting the Lord are inevitable.

This passage is speaking to Israel, but could rightly be aimed at our country too.

There will be a day of Reckoning.

Just observing the adulation of people watching the football, it is almost akin to worship.

It seems we will set our minds and hearts on anything but the true and living God.

Yet how futile to put hope in frail humans, especially for hoping for just a fleeting victory of a football match.

There will be many whose happiness was pinned on the outcome of the Euro final.

C'mon, I'm no kill-joy - I'm a footie fan, but things must be kept in proportion.

If life hangs or falls on anything other than Jesus, eventually, disappointment and disillusionment will follow.

Selah