The Brink of Destruction

Have you ever played the game Jenga? The one where you build a tower of small wooden blocks and then take turns pulling them out one by one. The further you go into the game, the more intense it becomes. Everyone moves slower, more carefully, because the fall is coming. And for those who take the game seriously, you may even hold your breath as you maneuver the blocks. But no matter how careful you are, it is inevitable at some point the tower will collapse. You can only hope it is not on your turn!

If I am honest, I really don’t enjoy Jenga – too much stress for me! But this game paints a picture that is so familiar. The picture that matches too many seasons of my life. The times when I choose my own way, even though that way leads to destruction. The times when I know I am on the verge of a breakdown, meltdown, or complete collapse, I just don’t know exactly when it will happen. But instead of changing paths, fixing things, or making adjustments I stubbornly continue down that path.

We want to think if hold our breath, move a little more carefully, or pick the right next move we can avoid the fallout of our decisions. But the truth is when we are on the wrong path it is only a matter of time. You cannot go in the wrong direction day after day and not experience the pain and problems that come with that choice.

When God is addressing the stubborn people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah, He gives a similar picture to explain the danger they are facing. Listen to what He says, “Therefore this iniquity will be to you like a breach about to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant, whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar, so ruthlessly shattered that a sherd will not be found among its pieces to take fire from a hearth or to scoop water from a cistern.” (Isaiah 30:13-14 NASB)

Why were the people in this place? They didn’t want to face reality. God sent them prophets and teachers to explain the danger they were in, but instead of paying attention to their wisdom, they were unwilling to listen. These people wanted to hear a pleasant message. They wanted someone to affirm their plans and speak flattering words to them. The big problem was that was not what they needed to hear. They needed truth. They needed a reality check. They need to change directions.

Unfortunately, the times we are most in need of truth are the times when it is hardest to hear it.  And without much effort, we can usually find someone to affirm our choices, even if they are the wrong ones.

The pattern of rebellion is built when we know the right way but we choose the wrong way, when we hear the truth but we choose the lies, when we need accountability but we choose people who don’t confront us.

When we choose the path of rebellion we can be sure of one thing, we are on the brink of disaster. Unless we turn back, one of these days collapse will come. Rebellion is not a neutral position. It is a choice with consequences. Be sure, even if you think you are holding it all together today, you will feel the effects eventually.

The good news is just like we can choose the path of destruction, we can choose the path of life. God is always ready to help us. He is ready for us to walk in His way; we just have to turn to Him. He is the one who can restore, heal, and keep us from that destruction inevitably looming before us.

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“For this is a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the LORD; who say to the seers, ‘You must not see visions’; and to the prophets, ‘You must not prophesy to us what is right, speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions. ‘Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.’ Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, ‘Since you have rejected this word and have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them, therefore this iniquity will be to you like a breach about to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant, whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter’s jar, so ruthlessly shattered that a sherd will not be found among its pieces to take fire from a hearth or to scoop water from a cistern.’”
Isaiah 30:9-14 NASB