Ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing. (Jeremiah 44:18)
After Jeremiah was kidnapped and taken to Egypt, he warned the Jews living there about continuing in the disobedience that led to Jerusalem's destruction. The refugees scoffed at Jeremiah for they saw no connection between behavior and blessing.
The things that are best for us don't usually offer an immediate reward. We exercise for thirty minutes and still aren't buff so we say, Forget this! We start putting a few bucks a week in savings and at the end of the first week we have... a few bucks. This isn't getting me anywhere. Might as well go out to dinner! On the other hand the things that are worst for us don't usually pose an immediate threat. We eat a greasy hamburger without having a heart attack. We spend too much time at work and our wife and kids still love us.
The fact that the consequences of our choices are cumulative rather than immediate allows us to live in denial. But just because the outcome is delayed doesn't mean it's not coming.
The Jews remembered fondly life in Judah back when they had been worshiping the Queen of Heaven. [1] They totally missed the connection between their previous lifestyle and their present circumstances.
What behaviors would you change if you were thinking long term?
[1] This title probably refers to the Canaanite goddess Ashtoreth.
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