Tuesday, November 23, 2010

"Jeremiah's Dungeon"

We often associate punishment in the form of imprisonment, banishment, torture etc., as payment for crimes and sins. However, what are we to do about equally detrimental situations as repayment for doing things that are good?

Take the prophet Jeremiah for instance. What was his crime? Simply telling people the truth about themselves and warning them that their actions displeased God.

Jeremiah was trying to save souls, yet he was repaid in a most despicable way.

Jeremiah 38:6 (AMP) - "So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon or cistern pit [in the charge] of Malchiah the king's son, which was in the court of the guard; and they let Jeremiah down [into the pit] with ropes. And in the dungeon or cistern pit there was no water, but only mire, and Jeremiah sank in the mire."

Jeremiah sank in the mire. I thought only bad people sank in the mire. The mud and mire of their own sinful lives.

Jeremiah was one of the good guys, yet he became mistreated for obeying God.

Yeah, him and countless other believers over the centuries who stood up for what was right and for what God wanted them to do.

Sometimes, maybe even often, there is a price to be paid in the form of discomfort for following God instead of the comfortable pathway of sin.

Make no mistake about it. As a pastor, and more so as a follower and believer in Jesus Christ, I have seen as well as experienced that discomfort. There was a time when standing up for Jesus was much more popular than it is today. In this place in time it is fast becoming the polar opposite.

Christian...you are barely tolerated in many places.

In other places you are murdered.

Jeremiah was fortunate. God raised up an advocate for him that resulted in him being rescued from the miry pit. However, he still remained imprisoned.

A strange thing occurs in time. Jeremiah continues to warn the King that the Lord wants him to surrender to the Bablylonians. In the long run King Zedekiah refuses, is taken captive, has his sons executed in front of him, himself has his eyes plucked out, and is taken prisoner.

Jeremiah on the other hand, ends up being released and walks free once again among the people.

How the tables get flipped! Jeremiah was the one who always had the favor of God. The captive becomes free, and the captor becomes captive!

Ain't that just like God?

Yes it is! And it's just like God to act like that on our behalf.

Rom 8:31 - "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us , who can be against us ?"

It's not to say the enemies won't try. It's not even to say that the enemies won't be successful from time to time.

It is to say that in God's infinitely perfect timing, we will never be defeated! No one, not anyone or anything, will successfully stand against one of God's own!

Are you one of God's own today? It's the best move you have ever made hands down!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

No comments:

Post a Comment