Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you-Hosea 10:12

Hosea calls the people to repentance, reminding them that a decision could not be postponed, and that God’s blessings could be still be restored. In Israel’s case, the people had to re-establish social justice, righteousness, loyalty and mercy in the land. Break up fallow ground; plowing and planting are necessary steps for growing a crop that will eventually sprout when the rain fall in season. In the same way, repentance would set the stage for restored blessings God would eventually rain down on His people.

Israel had received warning, giving them the judgments of God that were coming upon them. God doesn’t desire the death and ruin of sinners, He doesn’t get the glory when a sinner dies in their wickedness (Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel – Ezekiel 33:11)? When a saint dies, its precious in the sight of the Lord, because the individual is going home to live with the Lord (Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints – Psalm 116:15).

Certain religions believe a saint is one that did many good works and have died, but a saint is one that is both living and dead. Those that are living, are those that are faithful and devoted to God,  set apart, holy vessels to be used by God, and then when they die, they are called saints. Israel had strayed away from God, they had back-slide, and God was trying to bring them to repentance, so that they would live and not die in their sins.

God is still calling His people to repentance, we are now the spiritual Jew (But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God – Romans 2:29). Many have left the fundamental teaching of the word of God, and is focusing on financial prosperity. Attending church, but their recreational entertainment as well as their lifestyle is secular, causing God to grieve over their lifestyle, when He has given instructions on how He wants His people to live.

The church use to be a place where the people of God as well as the unbeliever could go and receive healing and deliverance, but because many of the people of God have left the instructions, and are living according to their desires and their will, the glory of God’s presence is no longer in many churches. This is why many are sick and feeble, naturally and spiritually because the word of God has been rejected and His Spirit no longer gives visitation to bring healing and deliverance. When the people of God repent, and rededicated themselves, the glory of God will be restored to the church and the body of Christ.

God never pushes Himself or His word on anyone, we have a free choice to choose to live according to His word or live according to our will, this choice is ours. In order to be caught up with Jesus in the sky at His return, we must have His Spirit living within us, and we must be living according to the instructions God has given us through His word. God loves everyone, but His love will not keep Him from punishing those who rejects His instructions (Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity – 2nd Timothy 2:19).