2 Kings 20:20-21:18

“Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.” (2 Kings 21:9, NKJV)

Manasseh loved doing just the opposite of his father. Whereas Hezekiah sought to do right in the eyes of the LORD, Manasseh attached himself to the Canaanite idols and did much evil—more than any of the other kings of Judah. The people followed his example, doing more evil than the nations whom the LORD had driven out of the land.

“So this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror.” (2 Kings 21:12, NLT)

God is patient, but there comes the point of no return. There is a line that is crossed—we know not where—when God says, “Enough!” And He will not relent from sending disaster. The wickedness of Judah had reached the point where devastation was inevitable. This would not occur for another hundred years. Then God would destroy Jerusalem, and the people of Judah would be taken captive to Babylon. But there was no turning back.

In his teaching on Jeremiah, Pastor Chuck Smith said:

"I really feel that the world and our nation has come to that point in history that Judah was where it is too far gone to just try to rebuild. I think that the government is too far down the tubes. I don’t think that it is salvageable at this point. I think that we are at that point of just being leveled, and then I believe the Lord is going to begin His building and His planting of the glorious kingdom."

Since Pastor Chuck said those words, things have only gotten worse. Have we passed the point of no return as a nation? I find no reason to disagree with Pastor Chuck. The amazing thing is that according to 2 Chronicles 33:12, Manasseh repented of his sins and took away the foreign gods and idol from the temple. He saved himself, but it was too late to save the nation. The train that was rolling down the hill could not be stopped.

So what can we do? We can do what Jeremiah did. We can save ourselves from this perverse generation, and we can warn others to save themselves from the wrath to come by turning from their sins and believing in Jesus Christ. May God give us His love for the lost and boldness to speak up. Time is running out!