We Don't Know What We Are Doing

“O LORD, I know that the way of man [is] not in himself: [it is] not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (Jer 10:23 AV)

This is one of those statements that can hit the reader in any number of ways.  How it applies lies in the present condition of the heart.  If he is proud, then the reader can see this is deeply convicting.  If the reader is one prone to anxiety, then comfort is the result.  Knowing that we will never have all the answers and that God does is a great comfort to the fearful.  To Jeremiah, this verse points to the origin of revival.  He is preaching to an unrepentant and wicked nation.  If they are to have revival, they must want it and then depend on heaven to send it.  There is the most precious to me and that is an attitude of dependence.  Often coming at the end of trying to run one’s own life, the reader can admit to the soul that he or she truly doesn’t know what they are doing and needs the LORD to navigate through life.  Whether it is a need for revival or guidance through life, the principle is still the same.

There is a game we used to play with our teenagers that illustrates this truth perfectly.  It is one of those games by which someone is initiated into the group.  Two people are removed to a separated location.  The rest of the group uses objects to create a maze.  We used foldable chairs, and we set it up in a fill-sized gym.  Once the maze was all set, then one of the two separated from the group would be blind-folded and the other was his guide.  The point was to get through the maze without hitting any chairs.  Each chair hit was a point deducted.  Teams of two would work at the maze.  One was blind, the other was the guide.  Each time a new team was selected, the maze was reset.  We switched the guide and the guided so that each would experience being led by someone with better understanding and eyesight.  The very last team to go had our stooge.  He or she would be the last one to attempt the course blind-folded.  What this person didn’t know was as they heard what they thought were the chairs being reassembled, they were actually being stored away.  When our stooge came out with his eyes covered, the floor was empty.  It was hilarious watching this individual navigate a maze that did not exist.  To play it up, the guide would bark emergency instructions or wrong instructions that had to be quickly corrected.  The stooge would react accordingly.  It was a lot of fun.  Getting through the maze without hitting any chairs meant the stooge had won the contest.  When the blind-fold was removed, he realized he had been had.

God is infinitely wiser than all of creation put together.  He knows all things.  He knows how everything works.  He knows what will happen.  He has a plan that we cannot even begin to comprehend.  I have noticed that when my young sons gave up trying to do something on their own, they learned much faster.  Jeremiah may have meant the above statement as a criticism of the people who he led.  But the truth can run deeper than repentance and reconciliation.  This truth is universal.  It doesn’t matter whether we are walking in obedience and faith; or walking in disobedience and fear.  The truth is still the same.  Compared to the infinite wisdom of God, we simply cannot guide ourselves.  Living in the will of God is not within us.  We need our Father to show us the way, to give us wisdom, and to empower us.  It is not within ourselves.  Only God can get us through the maze of life.

A Sign For a Much Needed Rest

“Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they [be] all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.” (Jer 9:2 AV)

What are the signs your preacher might need time off?  Jeremiah is getting close to the edge.  In the next few chapters, he is about to hang up his bible and quit on God.  He is preaching to a congregation that seems to ignore his warning.  He sees to profit in it.  Why is he working so hard for so little results?  If you look closely at Jeremiah’s statement, there are several things to glean.  First, a sabbatical is not limited to time off alone.  Jeremiah is seeking a lodging place for men who are tapped out.  He does not seek time off to spend at home and worry about the challenges there.  He seeks a special place where wayfaring men can go.  A place in the wilderness.  He is not seeking to replace one ministry with another.  He does not want to take time away from the ministry, only to go to a place where there are more people in need.  No, the prophet wants a place in the wilderness where he can get away from the demands of the souls of men.  He needs rest.  Not merely relocation.

Second, note also that he wants to disengage from his people.  Jeremiah is not speaking of a sabbatical, of merely relocating to a different physical place.  He needs to take the time to emotionally disengage for a time.  It is not that he dislikes his people or resents the call of God.  Rather, Jeremiah is asked to do the impossible.  This takes a seriously deep draw on the emotions.  He cares.  He loves.  He labors.  But like physical strength, he has only so much emotional ability.  When the depths of the demands of God’s hurting people reach a peak, Jeremiah knows that he needs to remove himself from the needs of his people.  The phone has to be turned off.  The computer must be left at home.  There has to be a total break from that which demands of him everything he has.  The wilderness is a place where communication is cut off.  The wilderness is a place that is so different from what he came from that no thought of what he had back home enters his heart and mind.  If he has to recharge, he must do so completely.  It is like my computer battery.  I learned that in today’s computers, one must totally discharge the battery in BIOS for Windows to recalibrate the battery charging level.

So, what is the indication above that shows us that Jeremiah needed a break?  Note the exaggeration.  He states that all of Judah and Benjamin have become spiritual adulterers.  Every last one of them.  In his view, there wasn’t one soul left in Judah to hang his optimism on.  He had lumped everyone together and because the overwhelming condition of his congregation was a backslidden state, then every last one of them must be.  This was not due to lack of information.  This was due solely to exhaustion.  How do we know?  There was a family who made a vow to keep them separate from the sins of Judah.  They were called the Rechabites.  Their father, Rechab, required the whole family vow this vow.  They kept it with earnest.  They were the shining lights in an otherwise dark time.  Jeremiah would later bring them into the temple.  They were challenged to break their vow and refused.  As a result, the LORD spared them the fate of the rest of the nation.  Remember that Daniel and his three friends were also part of the children of Israel that went into Babylon.  In other words, Jeremiah could only see the negative.  He could not see the positive.  He refused to be encouraged.  Why?  He needed a break.  So, if your preacher is depressed and negative; if he sees no reason to carry on; if he refuses to rejoice at the good news that trickles his way; if all he sees is hopelessness; then take up a love offering. He needs a break.  Plan it for him.  Make the reservations.  Give him a sabbatical and instruct all to leave him be.  No phone calls.  No texts.  No emails.  Nothing.  If something comes up, handle it as a church.  If your preacher never wears a smile, never laughs, never has eyes of joy and optimism, then send him away to the wilderness.  Do so before he snaps and quits the ministry altogether.

 

 

What Did You Expect?

“Will he reserve [his anger] for ever? will he keep [it] to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.” (Jer 3:5 AV)

Jeremiah is one of the saddest of all biblical books.  Jeremiah, known as the weeping prophet, was sent to an unrepentant Judah.  Babylon was soon to invade and carry them all away into captivity.  The temple would be destroyed.  Jerusalem’s city walls would be leveled.  There would be nothing left worth staying for.  All the wealth, all the resources, and all that the king of Babylon desired would be taken.  The land would lay desolate for 70 years.  Much death and hardship would follow.  Judah and Benjamin were rebellious and petulant children.  They saw their brothers to the north, carried away by Assyria decades earlier.  Yet, they aped the same sins.  The LORD said Judah and Benjamin were more accountable because they saw the consequences of idolatry fall on their brothers to the north; yet they ignored it and went after the world and paganism.  The question above is a fair one.  What do they expect?  Do they expect the LORD to withhold His judgment forever?  Do they expect the God of all mercy would never mete out correction?  Did they expect a God of love would never be angry with their sins?

I think we are like that small child who is shocked when he gets a spanking for acting out.  Mom and Dad have tremendous patience.  They put up with a lot.  There is a tipping point, though.  If there wasn’t, their wayward child would continue to push the envelope.  We have all been there.  I am thinking long car rides.  Remember those?  I have three sons.  My parents had eleven children.  We never went on a car ride longer than a couple of hours.  At least not regularly.  Most were under two hours.  There was the occasional event when my father had to pull over and deal with a child.  That was not pleasant.  Then there are those public events like church, a wedding, a graduation etc. where a young one acts out so much that mom or dad takes the little one to the restroom for some re-education.  I think it a bit amusing when you give your little tyke a swat on the backside while he is having a come apart, and he didn’t expect it.  Another example is acting out in a store.  They beg.  They throw temper tantrums.  They try to embarrass you into conceding.  When you show no indication of frustration or anger, you bend over a bit, look him straight in the eye, and swat his bottom.  He is in shock!  Mom or Dad actually reacted.  But not in a way they expected. 

Unlike the LORD, when we react to our child’s relentless misbehaving, He does not do so from frustration or impatience.  When the LORD deals with us, it is deliberate and planned.  Why should we be shocked?  That is the point of the above passage.  Why should we be shocked when the LORD corrects us?   Especially after repeated offenses!  Jeremiah is posing the question to Judah, not from the direction of having already received correction.  Rather, from pending correction.  Even when they are warned, it is implied they will still be shocked at the hand of God.  Even after hundreds of years and an example in Israel, Judah and Benjamin react incredulously that God would actually slap their wrist.  After all, they have the temple and the capital city.  Doesn’t that count for some exemption?  Why are we shocked?  We are His children.  Why did we expect?  Did we expect a free pass for our entire lives just because He says that He loves us?  Maybe it is that love that demands the correction.  What did we expect would happen?

Eyes Upward

“That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.” (Isa 65:16 AV)

I wonder what we would do if God took all our troubles away.  Not only are they taken away.  They are forgotten.  Perhaps this is another promise to a reclaimed Israel.  Perhaps the prophet is pointing to a time when Israel will be restored and all their enemies will be defeated.  Then they will turn to the LORD for blessings and vows.  There will be no other concerns of life.  Their attention will be focused solely on the Messiah, who will reign over them is righteousness and truth.  The N.T. saint has a similar promise and a similar response.  Our troubles will cease and be forever forgotten when we graduate to glory.  None of what troubles us today will ever be remembered in the light of God’s glory.  We have heartaches, we have anxieties, we have troubles of mind and soul.  But a million years from now, who will remember?  Therefore, if we are to be blessed in this life, let it be from the God of truth.  If we are going to set goals and seek purpose of life, let it be for the glory of God.

Thinking about this verse, one cannot help but be moved with the convicting truth that we should not wait until glory for this promise to be a reality.  Paul states it this way. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col 3:1-2 AV) As far as our former troubles, being lost is sin is far worse than any normal trouble we might experience.  We are not promised a perfect temporal existence.  Perfection doesn’t come until eternity.  There will always be sorrow, sickness, and death.  Our bodies will age.  Our families will drift apart.  Our homes will breakdown, the car will quit, there will be crime in the neighborhood, and political unrest throughout the world.  Our world is not rainbows and unicorns.  As long as sin is a part of it, there will be trouble.  It is naïve to think we can have a perfect life.  That was never part of the deal.  What we can do is focus our attention on that which is perfect.

Isaiah gives us a clue.  If our eyes are on the God of truth, then the troubles we may experience can be endured.  The trials can become something by which we mature.  God can and does become more real.  Faith can and does grow.  As we navigate the hard times of life, if our eyes are pointed above, then the troubles can remain in the past.  They can be forgotten.  Isaiah points to the presence of the Messiah, who will reign before the eyes of Israel.  God with us will be with them.  They will see Him.  They will speak to Him face to face.  Their temporal life will be governed by the Son of God, who will rule with a rod of iron.  But we do not have to wait for this.  Jew and Gentile alike can accept Jesus as Savior, point their mind's eye heavenward, and have a life of blessings and purpose.  Trouble will be there.  But trouble will have profit attached.  May our eyes be heavenward!

Psst

“For the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the righteous.” (Pr 3:32 AV)

Our learned scholars are in agreement that the secret spoken of above is not a single fact or truth that is shared with the righteous.  Rather, the secret here is intimate counsel.  The froward are those who deliberately walk contrary to the LORD.  This secret is a very special one.  It means more than impersonal counsel.  It is not like going to a total stranger or even someone slightly familiar for an opinion.  This is like sitting down with your best friend or most loved person and going over things that will help you tremendously.  It is also suggested this secret is not something that is always initiated by the one benefiting from the secret.  This secret is often shared by the LORD as He seeks us out.  The secret is shared over a very special time which the saint and the LORD share.  This is not prayer in passing or a quick verse here and there.  This secret is a special time of quiet intimacy wherein the LORD reveals our hearts to us, counsels with us, and encourages us to accept the counsel given.  It is not merely academic.  It is emotional.  It is counsel shared showered in the love and grace which is His divine nature.

I also note there are only two types of people above.  There is the froward and there is the righteous.  We are either one or the other.  There is no middle position.  As a father, I can tell you there were only two types of relationships I had with my children.  They were either dwelling with me in obedience, or they were living in my house while rebelling against me.  There was no neutral relationship.  No half way in or out.  They were either listening or ignoring.  They were either trusting or fearful.  They were either respectful or disrespectful.  There was no relationship of the status quo.  As a father, when I felt close to my son, he and I had some very special times.  I talked.  He listened.  He asked, and I answered.  We shared parts of our inward person we would never share with anyone else.  This intimacy required a love on my part and a submission on his part.  If, as the prophet describes, turns away the shoulder or hardens the heart, there is no intimacy.  There are no secrets.  There is no encouraging word or challenge to mature.

The same is true with our God.  Why would He fellowship in a special and intimate way with those who do not care for it?  Even the child of God who is bent on backsliding cannot expect intimate times with the LORD.  This intimacy is a real thing.  Most saints and all sinners simply are unaware of how close God can be.  He can be more real than any human relationship.  He can be so close that He literally dwells within your heart.  That is what the Holy Spirit does.  He takes up residence in the heart of the believer.  He is closer than anyone else can be.  He can see your heart.  He can know your mind.  He can speak to you in ways that no human being can.  The Bible teaches us that He can discern our thoughts and intentions.  Although this is often presented as a warning, this truth in far deeper.  He knows my thoughts, my anxieties, my hopes, and dreams.  He knows everything.  If I walk with Him in righteousness and faith, He will never cease to share with me those intimate times that only He can.

Overwhelming Presence of God

“The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” (Isa 60:19-20 AV)

What a promise!  Of course, we know these words are echoed in the book of Revelation.  In his passage, our God is comforting Israel as to the promises He has unconditionally made to them.  If they receive their Messiah, the promise above is theirs to enjoy.  The reference is to the restoration of Israel as God’s active people and the kingdom of the Messiah here on earth.  There, those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior and Messiah will enjoy a life untold by any previous generation.  This same promise is repeated in the New Testament for all people who have repented and trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.  It is that last phrase that speaks comfort to my heart.

I am getting to the age where more and more people I once knew are no longer with us.  Both of my parents departed their earthly pilgrimage several years ago.  Pastors who were my mentors have nor graduated to their heavenly home.  It won’t be long before other loves ones join them.  My childhood friends are slowly leaving this earth to where they will spend eternity.  You know you are getting older when you attend more funerals than weddings.  They are both sad and happy affairs.  We know they will be missed.  But we also know there is coming a great day of reunification.  There is coming a day when the dead in Christ shall rise and those of us who remain will be caught up in the air.  There we will meet Jesus to never part again.

I don’t care for getting older.  At least not at the moment.  Perhaps the closer I get to my own homegoing, I won’t mind so much.  It is hard to say goodbye to those whom we have loved so deeply.  Mourning is a part of life.  There is nothing that will change that.  At least not until the LORD recreates the heavens and earth wherein righteousness will dwell.  Then there will be no more death or sorrow.  I think what Isaiah and Jesus Christ are trying to tell us is that the glory of God is so overwhelming, no matter what our troubles were, they will dissolve in the light of His wonder and love.  The presence of God will be infinitely greater than any memory of past loss.  All will be forgotten.  Only that which brings peace, joy, and comfort will remain.  This is why it is so very important to share the gospel with those whom we love.  The only hope of sharing the love of God for all eternity is to share the good news of the gospel.  The only way to soften the blows of losing someone so close is the comfort that we will eventually be with Jesus, reunited for all of eternity, and with no way of separation ever again!

Personal Righteousness in the Light of His Second Coming

“Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation [is] near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.” (Isa 56:1 AV)

There are good motivations to live right before the LORD.  Above is just one of them.  Knowing the appearance of our LORD Jesus Christ is eminent, the body of Christ should seek to live and do right.  Salvation spoken of above is not eternal salvation.  It is salvation from Israel’s captors.  Babylon and Assyria, and by extension Persia, held Israel captive for over two hundred years.  Was about to give his prophecy of the times preceding the coming of the Messiah.  There was every hope that the physical duress under which the nation of Israel suffered would soon come to an end with the appearance of the Messiah.  He would save them from Gentile oppression.  He would establish righteousness once and for all in a nation called to be the righteousness of God.  This is the promise of God.  The N.T. saint can also assume the same promise.  At least in principle.  By life or by death, our salvation is near.  Either Jesus will come back in our lifetime, or we will pass as all others have passed.  Either way, our eternal salvation and never-ending righteousness are nearer than when we first believed.  If so, it makes perfect sense to prepare for that eventuality.

Most of us can identify with this one.  When we approached the end of a school year and our finals were looming before us, how many of us did not study to get the best possible grade?  I think there were those who tried to ace everything they attempted because it would factor into future decisions.  The college they would attend, the ability to advance in their studies.  That sort of thing.  Then there were those who didn’t care if they passed.  All they wanted to do was to get through the years before them before they dropped out.  They didn’t care if they had to repeat a grade because when they turned the appropriate age, they were getting out anyway.  These two groups were the minority.  The rest of us studied to pass.  We learned more so get a good grade that we could live with.  We did not study to get the highest grade possible.  The closer we got to graduation, the less and less we tried.  We knew we would pass.  We knew we would graduate.  We knew that last test of our scholastic career would have almost no impact on what our future held.  So, we did the best we could do without stressing out about it.

This is not so with meeting our LORD.  We will meet Him face to face and, although we will be transformed into His image, our goal should be to do as best we can until that becomes our state.  Knowing that the finish line is at hand, then why not change?  Part of the salvation experience is repentance from sin.  Our attitude regarding sin changes.  We are convicted regarding it and we realize it is our sin that separates us from the LORD.  We understand that our sin is the cause for pending eternal damnation.  Guilt and shame are more than we can bear.  So, we cry out for mercy.  He forgives and restores.  If that is the case, why wouldn’t we continue the process of cleansing from sin?  If righteousness and judgment are within sight, why wouldn’t we strive to experience both as soon as we can?  That is the missing ingredient in our presentation of the gospel.  Sin is a minor issue while heaven is the major one.  We have it backwards.  Sin is the major issue.  Heaven is the minor one.  Who we dwell with is far more important that where we dwell.  Knowing God intimately and deeply because our sins are washed by the blood of Christ is the most important factor of salvation.  If we have this relationship, the closer we got to its consummation, the more we should desire His righteousness.