The Cry of John the Baptist

7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.9And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:7-10)

Thoughts: The religious leaders were not interested in change for the better.  They were interested in keeping up appearances and holding onto the status quo and their power.  John the Baptist was saying that the time of God's wrath is coming.  This was a prophecy that came true.  John was speaking about 30 AD by 70 AD- less than a generation later- there would be a brutal war that the Jews would lose.  No more sacrifices would be made in the Temple ever again.  The Temple would be torn down, and the Jews tossed out of the land until 1878 years later.  The axe was a the root of the tree.  The call of John the Baptist was to repent while there was still time.
     The problem of living in an evil society, an adulterous society is we are lulled to sleep by evil, and buy into the illusion that God doesn't care about our spiritual and physical adultery.  In such a society standing on the precipice of destruction- without God's protection- our main duty is to repent- and produce good fruit in keeping with repentance.  

Prayer: John the Baptist's plea, Lord, rings true for me.  Help me to turn to you with my whole heart and to give myself fully to you.