Lying prophets were telling those exiles that the Lord would
surely intervene and that they would be back in Jerusalem in a short time. The
lies were attractive and comforting to those who were struggling in a new land,
living among pagans, lonely, and afraid. Jeremiah told them the truth – “You
are not coming home. Your grandchildren will return so you have to get on with
life there, full of hope, but not empty dreams!”
Christians there is great wisdom for us in that
passage! We are aliens and strangers
here on this earth, but it is our present home, so we must carry on with life –
even as we hope for the time when God takes us home. We honor our God and bring glory to our Savior
by being good citizens, industrious, and praying for our community. If we refuse to live now because we are so
focused on the Second Coming or on some anticipated event, we make a terrible
mistake.
Things will come our way that we do not like, that to all
appearances could not possibly be the work of our Father. In my case, it is the death of my beloved
wife. It is hard to keep faith that God allowed her to die. She was not just my
love, she was my ministry partner, my ally and confidante. My world is upside down but I refuse to
retreat into some place of irrelevance, to sit down and look for rescue.
Instead, I take Jeremiah’s counsel to LIVE!
Crisis will come your way, too.
It may not be death, but there will disappointments, things that are, in
the moment, so stunning that you will be tempted to just exist. Don’t do
it. Live!
Jeremiah heard a further word from the Lord that he sent on
those exiles, a word of great comfort, but receiving it demanded great faith. "This is what the LORD says: “When
seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my
gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have
for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to
me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me
with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will
bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and
places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back
to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:10-14, NIV)
None of what happened to them was beyond God’s purposes. His plans were in
place and they were, ultimately, good plans.
Do you believe that God knows your pathway today? Can you
trust Him with that thing that is hard, that brings you pain, that appears to
be a dead-end? Oh, I am no fatalist! I
know that even Christians sometimes go off track and miss the perfect will of
their Father. But, even then, if we turn and seek Him, He can take our sins and
give us new life and renewed hope. If
you are facing dark days, keep on reminding yourself of His promise to the Jews
– a promise that we can own, too - "I
know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not
abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (Jeremiah
29:11, The Message) Meanwhile, keep living! Make choices – spiritual,
emotional, physical, and relational – that are healthy and that anticipate life
for you and generations to come.
Jesus told a parable (a story that teaches a spiritual
principle) to His disciples. It was about a nobleman that was going on a long
trip. Before he left, he entrusted his wealth to three servants. That nobleman
told them "Occupy ‘till I come." (Luke 19:13, KJV) In other words, they were told to get on with
life, to use the resources wisely and to invest them in life! Two of them did just that and were commended
for their faithful diligence. One hid the treasure, keeping it safe, but unused.
That servant was condemned! So, here is
the phrase for those of us who are pilgrims, looking for a heavenly home. “Occupy
‘till I come!”
Here is a word from the Word. “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.
Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your
daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase
in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the
city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because
if it prospers, you too will prosper.”
___________
Cornerstone
My hope is built on
nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and
righteousness.
I dare not trust the
sweetest frame
But wholly trust in
Jesus' Name.
Christ, alone, Cornerstone-
Weak made strong in
the Savior's love,
Through the storm He
is Lord,
Lord of all.
When darkness seems to
hide His face,
I rest on His
unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy
gale,
My anchor holds within
the veil,
My anchor holds within
the veil.
He is Lord Lord of all
When He shall come
with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him
be found.
Dressed in His
righteousness alone,
Faultless stand before
the throne.
Edward Mote | Eric Liljero | Jonas Myrin | Reuben Morgan |
William Batchelder Bradbury
© 2011 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG
Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
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