Prosperity, Hope, and a Future
N.B. — I was motivated to write this because a woman, Rachel G. Scott shared her thoughts on the passage from the book of Jeremiah. She was on a phone app, You Version, Verse of the Day. (Credit where credit is due.) So here I go …
After the Babylonian Captivity, when the Israelites were returning to Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah was given a word from God to encourage them: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, New International Version)
They had gone through the consequences for their continuing disobedience to God, their abandonment of His right ways. Now, keeping in mind the pattern God had established with using “called out people’’, the Israelites were set aside to demonstrate God’s purposes for Humanity. God had taught His right way of living and warned of the consequences of walking in opposing ways. “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Jerimiah 14:12, ibid)
People have developed various mindsets about God. There are so many incorrect teachings that form those ways of thinking. Many have the view of God as some sort of sadistic ogre with torture on His mind. Jesus came to demonstrate God as our heavenly Father — a good, good father — not some enraged drunken bully. Oh, it’s true, good or bad, there are consequences to what we do and fail to do. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief [unexpectedly].”
Still, it seems to be woven into the natural order — woven into our existence a facet of our corrupted nature. We bring results on ourselves. Climate Change, for example, the consequences of which we are becoming more aware of, we brought this impending doom onto ourselves. God isn’t responsible for our negligence or our consumptive greed. God has only watched us abandon His purposes for Humanity, over and over and over again. The responsibilities we seem to have neglected from the days of Creation. There is not much evidence mankind cares for or protects the environment God created for us. We’ve been too busy building our own. Perhaps, He has just left us to our own devices. Maybe in that way we will learn even if we have to learn the hard way. Isn’t that what good fathers do? Better sooner than later.
We love to go our own way like the rebellious teenagers we have become. We think we know the way. We are “wise in our own conceits.” Apparently and conveniently we ignore what consequences are plainly visible.
However, just like God’s demonstration of His love and His willingness to forgive and to restore the Israelites in Jeremiah’s words, God’s plan for Humanity is for our prosperity not our poverty, for our hope not for our discouragement, for a promising future not for condemnation. Think then, “how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.” (Hebrews 2:3)
Yes. God is quite willing to bail us out as in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11–32. Can we turn this ship around or like the “unsinkable” Titanic, is our rudder too small to turn away from our thoughts and ways? The gargantuan monstrosity we have built? You know, the one we think is unsinkable? Are we willing to accept His offer: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Yes. God has provided a way of escaping all calamities. But are we too ingrained in our thinking, too prideful to admit our mistakes?
Jesus said… “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Do you have any better ideas? Or do you know of some other way? Consider accepting Jesus.
