In the Old Testament, Moses gave very strict commands about maintaining the pure worship of God. Behind those rules are the Ten Commandments – especially the first two.

He warned Israel, just a little while before he died, to watch out for those who would attempt to get people to turn from the principles and laws God had already given to Israel. He said that there will come some people, calling themselves prophets and other things, suggesting that their new message was from God – or another god.

God may permit false prophets to rise up occasionally (more so now) to test (“prove”) His people. He wants them to see (He already knows) their own hearts as to whether or not they will stay faithful to God and His Word.

Their intent is to distract God’s people from the truth of God’s Word and from the righteous worship of God. The warning especially needs to be heeded today. Many modern-day so-called prophets, preachers, apostles, and priests, etc., think nothing of delivering messages that are contrary to God’s infallible and eternal Word.

They are everywhere on TV, the Internet, radio, in print, and elsewhere. Things that God forbids, they say are OK. Methods that God does not approve of – they say are now permitted. They condemn anyone who contradicts them – even criticizing the Word of God – which God has promised to preserve forever.

Christian, evaluate what you hear and see by the Word of God – and you cannot go wrong. The Bible tells us that when our Lord will judge – it will be based on the Word (“the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”) – not on some man’s word who contradicts what God said. I would hate to be found guilty of contradicting what God plainly said on that Day! Remember that it is His Word that was given “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:17).

People are often tempted to think that God works and acts the way we do – but He does not. He is not human – in the sense of having a changing and fallible nature such as we have. Although He came in the flesh, He was and still is 100% God.

It is for this reason that He never has a need to repent, which means to change His mind. He knows all things from the beginning of time to the end of it. The Bible tells us that “his word is settled in Heaven” (Ps. 119:89), therefore it never needs updating.

The only time that it might be said that God will repent in the Bible, is when man turns from their sinful ways. While in their sin – God promises to judge the sinner and send them to Hell when they die – if they do not repent and turn from their wicked ways.

In Jeremiah 18, there are two verses that make this plain. Verse 8 says: “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” The opposite is also true, as can be seen in verse 10: “If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”

God’s judgment against sin is sure – whether it be against an individual or a nation. It may not come immediately – but it will come if there is no repentance.

The same is true in salvation. If a sinner does not turn away from sin in their heart – there is no salvation. Christ died to pay for the sin of every human, but if they choose not to repent and trust in Christ as their only Savior, their damnation is sure.

This is why the Bible says: “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (II Cor. 6:2). Turn from sin and come to Christ today while there is time.