We have a challenging set of chapters today; the most challenging words are of God to Jeremiah. Suddenly, God’s revelations to him about the future extend far beyond the impending judgement on Jerusalem because of His people’s utter godlessness. God now looks further afield beginning with the nations nearby, “Egypt, the Philistines, Edom, Moab …Tyre …” (24:19-21), these are the Arab nations adjoining Israel today, and then, “all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another, and all the kingdoms of the world …” (verse 26).

This message about “all the kingdoms of the earth” is repeated twice. Solomon in his wisdom said, “a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). We must not avoid meditating on the climax to which Jeremiah’s message develops, “The LORD will roar from on high … against all the inhabitants of the earth … for the LORD has an indictment against the nations, he is entering into judgement with all flesh” (verse 31).

Fearsome! God’s judgement is to be upon all, whether they do not believe in Him. And what about those who believe in him?

Paul’s words in Romans 14 should dominate. Although we might be anxious about what we might face as our world suffers God’s judgements, note Paul’s quote from Isaiah 45:23 – words that are challenging to each of us. “For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue confess to God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of him(her)self to God” (verses 10-12).