As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5.

Our chapter, Jeremiah 15, shows us a window into the struggle Jeremiah experienced even as he was being led by Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. It shows us a window into consequences for actions taken in this life by ourselves or because of others. When will we truly grasp how destructive sin is? There is no sin in God. How can we think we honor Him while we choose sin? Do we truly think we will be with Him for all eternity and still sin? Then the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from My presence! Let them go! And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “‘Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.’” v. 1-2. And then Jeremiah speaks from his heart to God…Lord, You understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering – do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for Your sake. When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, Lord God Almighty. I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because Your hand was on me and You had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails….Therefore this is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve Me; If you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be My spokesman… Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them….I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the Lord. “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.” v. 15-21. Does this sound extreme? Sin is extreme. Cruelty is extreme. Wickedness is extreme.

I loved this this morning from You Are The Beloved by Henri Nouwen: “Always Reason to Hope I am increasingly impressed by the Christian possibility of celebrating not only moments of joy but also moments of pain, thus affirming God’s real presence in the thick of our lives. A true Christian always affirms life, because God is the God of life, a life stronger than death and destruction. In Him we find no reason to despair. There is always reason to hope, even when our eyes are filled with tears. Gracias!”

There are things in this world we will never understand. But, we can choose God to help us. He doesn’t see as we see and we can be grateful for that blessing. Remember God’s words to Jeremiah? If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Remember the history of mankind and all the times then and now that people have suffered grievous harm through wars, famines, religious persecutions, idolatries, sins…holocausts…terrorism…lies. Can you understand all of it? Choose the help only God can give. And give thanks to Him for all He is doing that we cannot yet see!