They did not Repent

 The word "repent" means to have a change of mind that leads to a change in behavior. It doesn't just mean to feel sorry for something we have done or said. It means to stop doing the wrong thing, make a U-turn, and start doing the right thing. Without a lifestyle change there hasn't really been any repentance. So, what does it take for you to decide to repent and change from doing wrong to doing right? It takes a lot for some of us, but we should all be ready to repent when God shows us we need to repent.

During the tribulation time, 7 years of terrible plagues and death on the earth, there will be one terrible plague after another to try to get the people to turn to God. (Revelation 9:18, 20) One time it will be 3 plagues of fire and smoke and brimstone. Those 3 plagues will kill one third of mankind. Just imagine one out of every 3 people dying in a short time. Still, the rest of the people who do not die will not repent of worshiping demons and idols, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. What does that tell us about the human heart?

We all have the ability to choose what we will do and how we will do it. We have a free will, which God gave us, so we could choose to love Him and to follow Him. Most people decide not to worship God, but to worship what they want to worship. Yes, people worship demons when they are led astray by them to do all kinds of sins against God and other people. Why would anyone worship a demon? It is the desire to pursue pleasure and not the joy and peace of the Lord.

Then, there are many people who worship idols. They allow other things to come between them and God. It could be money, power, status or anything except doing God's will first. This happens even when the idols have no power to really help them. On this Christmas Day, I pray we will all bow before the Lord Jesus Christ and make sure we worship Him alone. If we find anything sinful in our hearts, I pray we will repent of it today. That will make it the best Christmas we can have.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Revelation 11-12.