Project 119: Hope in the Upheaval | Jeremiah 5
| Project 119 | Dr. Wayne Splawn
“Complacency Kills”
You have likely heard the phrase “complacency kills.” The saying succinctly but powerfully communicates the truth that our failure to be faithful and vigilant in any area of life will eventually lead to disaster. We have all seen this truth play out time and again in many areas of life.
From athletes and coaches who lost a game to an inferior opponent because they thought they were unbeatable regardless of their level of effort, to businesses that were forced to close their doors because they assumed they would dominate the market despite their unwillingness to innovate and meet the changing demands of customers, to musicians who failed to produce quality art because they assumed their fans would support whatever they made—we know of countless examples of people and organizations who fell from lofty heights of success because they were complacent.
The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. In Jeremiah 5, the prophet Jeremiah warns the people of the judgment they will experience if they refuse to repent of their sins and walk according to God’s will. As Jeremiah describes the people, it is clear they are complacent in their relationship with God. They have engaged in immoral sexual practices, taken advantage of the poor and oppressed in the land, and served foreign gods. Rather than responding to Jeremiah’s message with faith and repentance, they choose to listen to false prophets who assure them that all is well and that they will never be held accountable for their sins.
During Advent, we are called to consider the truth that Jesus will one day appear in our world to make all things new and judge those who continue to pursue evil rather than walk according to God’s ways. The idea of appearing before the Lord is a sobering one because most of us no doubt struggle with complacency as we wait for the Lord to return. Ask the Lord to show you ways he is calling you to repent of your sins and more faithfully pursue his will as you wait for his return.