Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21.

By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:10.

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8.

It’s good when reading our chapter, Jeremiah 6, to remember and consider that all of the warnings then and now were given for our good. In the notes below it said that Babylon invaded Judah three times until they destroyed the nation and its temple completely. This happened. It was real. This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Cut down the trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression. As a well pours out its water, so she pours out her wickedness. Violence and destruction resound in her; her sickness and wounds are ever before Me. Take warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you and make your land desolate so no one can live in it”…v. 6-8. You can hear Jeremiah’s desperation…To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. But I am full of the wrath of the Lord, and I cannot hold it in. v. 10-11. And God has more…“From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of My people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the Lord. v. 13-15. Why do we cling so tenaciously to the very things that cause us harm? This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” v. 16. Can we not see that with Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, is our healing that brings joy and laughter and goodness with Him? And the other option? “I have made you a tester of metals and My people the ore, that you may observe and test their ways. They are all hardened rebels, going about to slander. They are bronze and iron; they all act corruptly. The bellows blow fiercely to burn away the lead with fire, but the refining goes on in vain; the wicked are not purged out. They are called rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them.” v. 27-30.

When tissue is diseased and necrotic, the surgeon cuts with skill until he reaches healthy tissue and bleeding – and then healing can begin. It is not done in vain, it is done with purpose. When we go to God and ask for His help, His refining is not done in vain as we trust Him to know where our diseased tissue is within our hearts and souls. It’s painful to be shown our own sins. With God’s help, He cuts skillfully and with purpose and we can trust Him with our repentance. Our blinders are removed and we know the difference His healing brings to our hearts and spirits so in need of Him. And it’s our choice always…Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.