https://odb.org/2024/01/09/love-beyond-counting
The book of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, is a little contradictory in the sense that it starts off with fire and brimstone threatening punishment and retaliation, and yet later it speaks of God’s love, reconciliation and rebuilding. To the generation of Israelites receiving God’s prophetic message in real time, it basically means if you don’t turn away from your disobedient, insolent and rebellious ways, Jerusalem will be overrun and destroyed, and her inhabitants killed or captured to become prisoners and slaves of the conquerers. God being God, the Word of God can not be untrue. So, the situation became – as per the warning and prediction. They were exiled twice, but later, they were allowed to return, and they rebuilt the Temple and the walls of the ruined city. As a nation, it was true, but as a person living in those times, you can either be one or the other, not both.
However, as believers redeemed by the blood of Christ, Israel of ancient days is a picture of who we are and can be in God. This means that as an individual with an average lifespan of, say, 80 years, we may be able to live through the life and times of Israel as a nation that spanned hundreds of years. We, as believers, are the spiritual Israel. Thus, Jeremiah, as a book, is applicable to us from its beginning until the end.
Approached in that manner, we are able to see God’s love for us. From the times we were disobedient and rebellious, receiving God’s punishment or discipline to the times He rebuilt our spiritual lives when we repented from our sins and turned away from our fallen ways. Ultimately, like God loved Israel, His heart is for us. If possible, He doesn’t want to see us perish like the others. His heart is always open to receive us back. To forgive us so we may, as Paul said, forgetting what is behind and look heavenward towards what is ahead of us in Christ Jesus.
The lesson of Jeremiah from a bird’s eye view is that the decision to repent and go back to God lies with us. Make that call today and give our lives back to God for us to fulfil our fullest potential and become the person the LORD wants us to be in Christ!
Ronnie's Thoughts 