How can any Jew or Christian read Jeremiah 46-49 unscathed? How can any of us in the free world, more specifically in the US, read Jeremiah 46-49 and not fear for our own country, our own lives? How can we not see that Jeremiah 46-49 could be us, should be us, is us? “Although you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you down, says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 46-49 was my daily reading for today. I challenged the feelings of expected doom with – its just Jeremiah’s emotional words to a different time that is affecting me. But in every line, I heard the anger of the Lord for nations who were so puffed up in themselves that they saw themselves invisible; this technology of ours way beyond anything God could touch, making ourselves like God, better than God.
But there was/is too much of us in those old words to ignore. My notebook filled with them, line after line warning us…not to repent…because that time has ended…not to run…because there was nowhere to run to…not to pray…because peace and love and charity had long ceased to be words of hope but rather a national means for success and fame…’Look at me…Look at me…all the good I’m doing…all the love I’m spreading…all the differences I’m making” with the extra I have instead of the first harvest, the freshest harvest, the best harvest of my life.
My notebook notes would not allow me the pleasure of asking “What can I do, Lord?” because He let me know that the question was just lip service. “You have lined your pockets with dollar bills but My People go hungry for My Word. You let your food in the frig rot while My People starve for My Wisdom. You overflow your shelves with books while My People go thirsty for My Knowledge. You come home and drop in front of the TV while My People drop on the streets. Should not your purpose-driven life be driven by Me? Not your wanting desire of success or fame or just relaxation. Me! Me! That should be your purpose. But it is not! What to do? You know what to do, but you do not do it. So don’t pretend to be innocent or different. Do! While you have the time! For time is precious and in My Hands!
“Surely, because you trusted in your treasures, you also shall be taken…Accursed is the one who is slack in doing the work of the Lord…”