The LORD God tolerates no rivals; he punishes those who oppose him. In his anger he pays them back. The Lord does not easily become angry, but he is powerful and never lets the guilty go unpunished.

Where the LORD walks, storms arise; the clouds are the dust raised by his feet! He commands the sea, and it dries up! He makes the rivers go dry. The fields of Bashan wither, Mount Carmel turns brown, and the flowers of Lebanon fade. Mountains quake in the presence of the LORD; hills melt before him. The earth shakes when the LORD appears; the world and all its people tremble. When he is angry, who can survive? Who can survive his terrible fury? He pours out his flaming anger; rocks crumble to dust before him.

The LORD is good; he protects his people in times of trouble; he takes care of those who turn to him. Like a great rushing flood he completely destroys his enemies; he sends to their death those who oppose him. What are you plotting against the LORD? He will destroy you. No one opposes him more than once. Like tangled thorns and dry straw you will be burned up!

Nahum 1:2-10

God will not let sin go unpunished. You may find that you have friends or relatives who profess to be believers, but then they turn their backs on Jesus Christ. Those defections raise questions about whether the person is a wayward Christian, or maybe one who never believed. In either case, the person will find out that the LORD does not let sin go unpunished. Plead with God to protect you from ever repenting of your repentance.

Once you turn away from sin, there should be no turning back.

Our Daily Bread – December 23, 2002