Text: “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” (Hosea 5:15)
One of God's common ways of bringing sinners to Himself is by making them deeply aware of their sinful and miserable condition. People naturally live without much concern for their souls. They may know intellectually that they are sinners, but they do not truly feel the weight of their guilt or the danger they are in before a holy God.
Therefore, before God brings a person to salvation, He often awakens the conscience. He opens the sinner's eyes to see the reality of sin, the certainty of judgment, and the desperate need for mercy through Christ.
In Hosea 5:15, God declares that He will withdraw His favorable presence from His people until they recognize their guilt and seek Him. Their suffering is designed to bring them to repentance. Affliction becomes the means by which God awakens them to their true condition.
God ordinarily makes people aware of their misery before He brings them to saving faith in Christ.
Before sinners value Christ as a Savior, they must first see their need of Him. Before they seek healing, they must realize they are spiritually sick. Before they hunger for righteousness, they must feel the emptiness of their own righteousness.
Christ Himself said:
“They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” (Mark 2:17)
A person who thinks he is well will not seek a doctor. Likewise, a person who thinks he is spiritually safe will not seek Christ with earnestness.
Many people live comfortably in sin because they do not understand the seriousness of it. They compare themselves with others and conclude that they are not very bad.
But when God awakens the conscience, sin appears exceedingly sinful (Romans 7:13). The sinner begins to see that every sin is committed against an infinitely holy God.
He realizes that he is not merely imperfect but guilty.
People naturally trust in their own goodness, religious activities, morality, or good intentions.
They may attend church, pray, read the Bible, or live respectable lives, and yet never truly trust in Christ.
God often removes these false foundations. He shows sinners that their own righteousness cannot save them.
Isaiah writes:
“All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)
Only when self-confidence is shattered will a person look entirely to Christ.
A starving man values bread more than one who is full. A drowning man values a lifeboat more than one standing safely on shore.
Likewise, Christ becomes precious when a sinner realizes his desperate need.
Those who feel little guilt often have little appreciation for grace. But those who have seen the greatness of their sin marvel at the greatness of Christ's mercy.
As Jesus said:
“To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:47)
The Word of God acts like a mirror, revealing the true condition of the heart.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12)
The commandments expose sin. The warnings of judgment awaken fear. The promises of grace reveal the hope found in Christ.
No one can truly understand his sinful condition without the work of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said:
“When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8)
The Spirit convinces the sinner that God's verdict is true.
God often uses suffering, sickness, loss, disappointment, or trouble to awaken people.
When earthly comforts are removed, people begin to consider eternal realities.
This is what Hosea 5:15 teaches. God sends affliction so that people may seek His face and acknowledge their offense.
Many who ignored God in prosperity have sought Him earnestly in adversity.
A person who feels no concern about his soul is in a dangerous condition.
The greatest misery is not knowing that one is miserable.
A sleeping man in a burning house is in greater danger than one who is awake and alarmed. The awakened sinner may be troubled, but at least he sees his need. The careless sinner remains at ease while destruction approaches.
Scripture warns:
“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Ephesians 5:14)
If God has made you aware of your sin and misery, do not despair.
Conviction is not the end of God's work; it is often the beginning. The same God who wounds also heals.
“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us.” (Hosea 6:1)
Your sense of guilt is meant to drive you to Christ, not away from Him.
Christ invites weary and burdened sinners:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
No sinner is too guilty, too corrupt, or too far gone to be saved if he comes to Christ in repentance and faith.
God's ordinary method of bringing sinners to salvation is first to awaken them to their lost condition. He causes them to see their guilt, their helplessness, and their need of mercy. He often uses His Word, His Spirit, and even affliction to accomplish this work.
Until a person feels the disease of sin, he will not seek the Great Physician. Until he sees his own emptiness, he will not prize the fullness of Christ.
Therefore, when God makes a person sensible of his misery, it is not necessarily a sign of His wrath. It is often a sign of His mercy, preparing the sinner to seek His face and find salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
“In their affliction they will seek me early.” (Hosea 5:15)