The Old Testament tells about the Israelites being sent into exile. They’d turned their backs on God one too many times and He turned them over to their enemies for a time to get their attention. I think there’s a case to be made that America, which was founded on Christian principles and even in my own memory held basic Christian beliefs as standard operating procedure, has come so far from those tenets that perhaps God has decided we need a bit of redirection. Yes, I know we haven’t been sent away from our homes, but certainly the wasteland of riots, of celebrating the death of unborn babies, of rainbow repurposing, of government dishonesty and outright lying, and the way our media has turned us away from morals, certainly we are not in the God-driven land of our births right now.
So, I have been reading the Old Testament prophets in an effort to learn how I’m supposed to live as one of the remnant in the midst of this exile. How am I supposed to continue living as a Believer in a world so negative towards believers? How am I supposed to carry on? Thankfully, I think I’ve found a little direction in the book of Jeremiah (chapter 29). Of all things, Jeremiah writes a letter to the exiles in Babylon that clearly sounds as if it could apply to here and now. I highly recommend anyone who is struggling with the way things are right now to read it. Then read it again.
Here’s what the letter, which Jeremiah tells us are God’s recommendations, says to me about what we are to do:
Jeremiah: “build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what you produce.”
Take care of yourselves and see to your living. Work.
Jeremiah: Marry and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your [children] so that they, too may have sons and daughters.”
Continue living your lives. Grow where you are planted.
Jeremiah: “Seek peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.”
Don’t become hermits, don’t drop out of society. Stay active, speak up, and speak the truth, and do what you can to make things better and more Godly.
Jeremiah: “Do not let prophets and diviners among you deceive you…They are prophesying lies to you in My name. I have not sent them.”
Don’t be deceived and led astray by anyone, including woke pastors and preachers who are speaking lies and twisting what the Bible really says.
Wow, now I have a plan, a real, practical way to carry on. And I have God’s assurance that He’s still here and still involved:
“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on 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 of your heart. I will be found by you.”
So, fellow remnant members, be brave, be bold, and know God is with us.
