No More Correction

“Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.” (Eze 39:29 AV)

Hopefully, there comes a time when extreme correction is no longer needed.  There might be a tweek or two.  But hopefully, if we have been walking with the LORD, He has cleansed the major weaknesses of our character and there is no more need for drastic measures.  Such is the expression above.  Israel has been sent into captivity for the sins of idolatry.  She has played the harlot against the LORD and the LORD took His hand of protection away.  Assyria and Babylon have invaded, removing the vast majority of the Hebrews to enslave them to the whims of a pagan king.  Several hundred years later, they would find themselves under the control of Rome.  Given the opportunity to accept the Messiah, they reject Him and even have a hand in His crucifixion.  This resulted in the total destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of God’s people.  For two thousand years, the Jewish population would not have a country of their own.  All because they would not walk in obedience.  However, along comes the AntiChrist and for the first time, the remnant accepts Jesus as their Christ.  They have learned their lessons.  They have grown up.  They have put away the lusts of their youth.  Now, they enter the millennial reign of Christ with no more severe correction on the horizon.  They matured.  They grew up. 

There came a point in the maturity level of my sons when the paddle was put away.  When they had the ability to reason abstractly, there really was no more need for corporal punishment.  That is not to say there was no need for punishment at all.  Rather, when they failed, there was often a discussion and a mutual agreement that correction was needed.  Although at that maturity level, they may not have liked the punishment meted out, they did understand the need for it and the just nature of it.  As they approached adulthood, a less and less punitive correction was needed.  Mutual respect and appreciation for parental wisdom took over.  Sure, they still made mistakes.  But by and large, the foolishness of the child was chastened out and the more mature head of a respectful young man took its place.  Each stage of this relationship had its special moments.  Teaching my son to walk, talk, or follow along as I led was a joy beyond compare.  Sitting and sharing a book with subject matter that made his eyes light up is precious.  Then there are those adolescent years, teaching him how to throw a ball, cast a rod, or shoot a deer.  But then a funny thing happens.  Their brain develops to the point when instruction becomes more philosophical rather than rules and regulations.  Those years (and they continue to be so) when conversations aren’t centered around fixing what is wrong with my son, rather, sharing experiences of life as a source of encouragement and joy. 

This seems to be the same pattern the saint of God experiences as he walks with God.  We wonder if the hard years will ever get easier.  I don’t know about that.  But what I think is, the LORD gives us a maturity that makes handling hard times easier.  The season of harsh correction has passed.  We have learned our lessons.  We have learned to trust no matter the set of circumstances.  One of the joys of ministry is being by the side of those well advanced in years, helping them to enter into eternity.  It never ceases to amaze me how at peace those who love the LORD seem no matter the circumstances of their homegoing.  They could be in much pain.  Or, they could be rather comfortable.  They could have so many untended and loose strings, or than could have planned well and had an orderly exit.  No matter the circumstances, I have noticed a great peace in the hearts of those who are about to see their Savior face to face.  The time of correction is over.  The time of unabated sweet fellowship has come.  I say all that to say this.  If you are like me and struggle to please the LORD in all you do, you are aware of seasons of correction.  You are aware the LORD must send difficult times so that we learn the lessons we are supposed to learn or forsake the sins we are supposed to forsake.  As one gets older, those times become less dramatic.  Our relationship with the LORD changes.  He will always instruct and correct.  But the tenor is different.  It becomes deeper and sweeter until that final day when He calls us home.  This is the hope of all His saints.