Don’t Ignore the Bulging Wall  

A family in our church recently had a tree fall on their garage. Thankfully, no one was hurt, including the goats and other animals who typically roam in that area of the yard. The residents of the home told me they weren’t completely surprised that it happened. Although the tree wasn’t dead, it had grown in such a way that it leaned toward that particular structure. They had a sense that at some point it was going to come down.

I know of others who have leaning trees on or near their property. For one reason or another they haven’t had the threat removed. Instead they wait, watch, and pray when strong winds blow or other factors occur which tend to produce fallen trees. They live with that foreboding feeling that disaster could strike at any time.

It reminds me of a picture Isaiah gives us of God’s impending judgment. He condemns the people for being rebellious against God, for not listening to His Word, and for encouraging the preachers of their day not to proclaim what is right and true but to tell them the lies they want to hear. Then he warns them, “Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perversity, and rely on them, therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant. And He shall break it like the breaking of a potter’s vessel, which is broken in pieces; He shall not spare” (Isaiah 30:12-14). God’s judgment is pictured as a bulging wall that could break at any moment. There is no question about it - at some point it is going to fall.

 I believe we are living in similar times today. Our society is guilty of many of the same sins pointed out by Isaiah concerning the people of his day. We are rebelling against God. We are refusing to listen to what He clearly says in His Word. We flock to those who tell us lies and half-truths while condemning those who dare to proclaim the true Word of God. We are promoting perversity and sin rather than goodness, purity, and godliness. False ministers call themselves Christians while embracing the sins of our society and denying the exclusive claims that salvation can come only through faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins.

In the meantime, the wall is bulging. A holy God is only going to tolerate our rebellion for so long, in spite of His great mercy and patience. His judgment is building. At some point it is going to burst forth and force us to face the consequences of our actions.

Some will deny that the wall of God’s judgment is bulging. They may see the whole concept of divine judgment as an outdated idea that doesn’t fit their skewed picture of God’s love. Others will see the bulging wall, but will choose to ignore it because they are unwilling to change their beliefs or lifestyle. Others will have a sense that disaster is on the horizon but point to other causes rather than sin and God’s judgment.

Isaiah went on to reveal the remedy for the situation of the people in his day. It was to return to the Lord. We need to do the same. I am not talking about trying to return to some past age in the history of our nation which some may tend to glorify. I am referring to a real repentance of our sins, putting aside those things in this world we tend to idolize, and truly surrendering our lives to His will.

The wall is bulging. Judgment is coming. We need to turn back to God.