Based on Hosea 4 (New King James Version)
“Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: ‘There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away. ‘Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; for your people are like those who contend with the priest. Therefore you shall stumble in the day; the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. ‘The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of My people; they set their heart on their iniquity. And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds. For they shall eat, but not have enough; they shall commit harlotry, but not increase; because they have ceased obeying the Lord. ‘Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart. My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, and their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, and they have played the harlot against their God. They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit harlotry, and your brides commit adultery. ‘I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go apart with harlots, and offer sacrifices with a ritual harlot. Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled. ‘Though you, Israel, play the harlot, let not Judah offend. Do not come up to Gilgal, nor go up to Beth Aven, nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’—'for Israel is stubborn like a stubborn calf; now the Lord will let them forage like a lamb in open country. ‘Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone. Their drink is rebellion, they commit harlotry continually. Her rulers dearly love dishonor. The wind has wrapped her up in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.’”
To avoid confusion and ensure the message is properly directed, this passage was not written for the world at large—as is the case with much of the Bible—but rather for the people of God. Many Christians pass judgment on the world, speaking ill of those who are ignorant of God's Truth, and asserting that God will judge them. And while there is indeed some truth to this—that God will bring judgment upon the world—it does not necessarily fall upon those who are still unaware of His truth, but rather upon those who reject His call to salvation—those who have already been exposed to the Gospel. Yet, this particular passage does not even address that segment of the world; instead, it speaks to the people of God—or at least to those who claim to be His people—who are not living in accordance with the commands of His Word. God places a profound responsibility upon those who know the truth yet fail to obey it. Just like Adam and Eve, they had full knowledge of the Lord's instruction—not to eat from the forbidden tree—yet they ate anyway; and in doing so, they disobeyed and brought death into the world. Such individuals God will indeed judge.
Now, many believers think that we currently live in the dispensation of God's grace, and that this means there is no longer any judgment for them—because we are saved by grace. However, this is a grave error, for it contradicts everything that is written—that which was directly inspired by the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, everything in the Word of God points toward a judgment; and as such, God holds everyone who knows the Truth accountable.
Many might ask: "How will God judge me?" And we could very easily answer: based on His Word. From the moment a person decides for Christ, the first thing they must seek is His Word—to read it, study it, and obey it. Today, we live in a time when there is greater access to the Word of God than at any other point in history. It is estimated that approximately 7 billion copies have been distributed worldwide over the last 1,500 years. Furthermore, today we have the internet and free applications—freely accessible via our smartphones—allowing every person to hold the Word right in the palm of their hand. Therefore, no one has any excuse for lacking access.
So, what is the problem? The problem we face today is quite simple: most of God's people do not take the Lord seriously. Just as God's wrath was kindled against His people Israel in the past (as we read today), God is now reaching a point of wrath with His people today—unless, that is, you believe that everything currently unfolding is merely an accident, or solely the fault of those who are unfamiliar with the Gospel. This is what the Word says: “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts to you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ ‘You offer defiled food on My altar, but say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?’ Says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 1:6-8. How, then, can I say that the people of God are in a bad state? Realize that all the sins the Lord cites in the chapter of Hosea we read today are fully evident among God’s people right now; consequently, there is neither honor shown to the Heavenly Father, nor—much less—any fear of the Lord. The grave problem is that certain doctrines have been taught—and are, moreover, quite conveniently embraced—that place an excessive emphasis on God’s grace, God’s goodness, God’s mercy—in short, God’s love. This emphasis is such that they have attempted to transform God into a sort of benevolent figure who, no matter what you do, will forgive you, bless you, and—why not?—grant you eternal life, since, after all, we are saved "by grace and not by works." Therefore, neither sin, nor a lack of repentance, nor anything you do is deemed to matter, because God is love, and He is merciful, and He is faithful, yet, this idea is unbiblical. This is what the Word says: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31. So, for your own good, examine your life, and see what you are doing wrong, and repent with all your heart because: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. So, are you taking the Lord seriously, for your own good, or are you doing as you please without any fear for the Lord? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!