Luke 20:13-15

God, through the prophet Isaiah, puts it this way:

4 What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? 5 Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. 6 I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it." Isaiah 5:4-6 (NIV)

Destruction follows the path of continuous disobedience – every sin carries with it a death sentence – death to trust, death to family, death to peace, death to relationships – death. This is man’s choosing it is not God’s desire. Scripture confirms this in both the Old and the New Testaments:

15 The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. 2 Chron 36:15-16 (NIV)

5 This is what the LORD says: "What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6 They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?' 7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable. Jer 2:5-7 (NIV)

37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. Matt 23:37-38 (NIV)

Mocking, despising God’s Word, scoffing, rebellion, following worthless idols all result in the inciting of God’s ire – God brokenheartedly yet firmly and finally says “Enough!”; “No remedy!”; “Desolation!” If it “cannot but grieve gracious souls to see what pains men take to go to hell” (C. H. Spurgeon) what of our gracious and loving heavenly Father? Think for a moment what His hand has bestowed upon us. Think for a moment of His constant love for us. Do we not owe Him our all?

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32 (NIV)

“How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has He ever done anything for thee? Has He forgiven thy sins? Has He covered thee with a robe of righteousness? Has He set thy feet upon a rock? Has He established thy goings? Has He prepared heaven for thee? Has He prepared thee for heaven? Has He written thy name in His book of life? Has He given thee countless blessings? Has He laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye hath not seen nor ear heard? Then do something for Jesus worthy of His love. Give not a mere wordy offering to a dying Redeemer. How will you feel when your Master comes, if you have to confess that you did nothing for Him, but kept your love shut up, like a stagnant pool, neither flowing forth to His poor or to His work? Out on such love as that! What do men think of a love which never shows itself in action? Who will accept a love so weak that it does not actuate you to a single deed of self-denial, of generosity, of heroism, or zeal?” C. H. Spurgeon

“Thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is better.” Matthew Henry

5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. 2 Thess 3:5 (NIV)