“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?”  Jeremiah 12:5

We all share concern for the obvious ills within our culture.  Our news feeds sound much like Paul’s words to Timothy about the future . . . . “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers . . . . unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control . . . . traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” 2 Tim. 3:2-5

We become burdened watching self-absorbed, sordid people experiencing notoriety and apparent success.  Fools become millionaires; crack pots and frauds occupy seats of power.  Christian people are often confounded by the troubling trends in American culture and its fascination with noise and nonsense.  Saints are praying . . . . where’s God?

Well, Jeremiah had similar issues with the people in his neighborhood.  His hometown of Anathoth had become a hostile place for him.  In his effort to obey God and represent His interests, he had become a target for his own kinsmen.  There was even some talk about killing him . . . .  Not so good!

So, the prophet comes to God in all reverence, but nevertheless wanting to argue the soundness of His judgement in allowing the wicked to get off scot free.  “You know me, God, you’ve tested my heart.  Let the wicked feel as I have, like sheep waiting for slaughter!  Prepare to do them in, Lord, because they’re threatening to shorten my days!” (12:1-4)

God’s reply to Jeremiah came in the form of a penetrating question, (the opening scripture – Jer. 12:5) one which I think contains suggestions for our own perspective moving forward.

Like Jeremiah, we sometimes think the present outlook is pretty negative and disturbing, but the truth is, God knows there are things approaching soon that will be far more challenging than the present distresses.  God was telling Jeremiah in no uncertain terms; “you haven’t seen anything yet!”  Those small-town thugs in Anathoth were nothing compared to the powerful religious elites he would soon be encountering in Jerusalem.  If he was going to be wearied and stumbling at the nastiness of some ‘good-old-boys,’ he’d for sure be no match for folks who had the money and influence to make him disappear ‘in the name of the Lord.’

We need to salvage for ourselves some of the adjustments Jeremiah had to make when God basically told him to ‘get your Big Boy pants on!’

Perhaps its time to stop being ‘shocked’ by sinners doing what sinners do.  What else do they have?  And maybe we should spend less time fretting over what they’re doing and pay more attention to what we’re doing.  We’ve got plenty of ‘planks’ in our own collective eye to keep us occupied.  Leave those ‘specks’ in other eyes alone. (Matt. 7:3-5)

We have a gospel calling, and I think it primarily has to do with ‘good news.’  So why are so many believers carrying on continually about the bad news?  That’s not our message, our assignment.  Since when is corruption, or misrepresentation, or abusive behavior, or obscene movies, or violence, or corporate greed, or malpractice, or drug abuse, or shoddy work, or abortion, or all kinds of pollution a new development?  These things have all been pervasive in our culture for generations.  Let’s stop the hand wringing.  If we’re able to make a difference with one of these issues, by all means let’s do what we can.  But carrying on about cultural change and societal decline is a waste of our time and energy.

I see sincere believers mounting crusades about Harry Potter movies, or who was asked to bake a cake for who, or who’s been elected to public office, or how much money some preacher has, or getting ready for the ‘end time,’ or defending the second amendment . . . . honestly, in the next few decades it’s doubtful most of those crusades will even be remembered.

If our sense of stability or security is being upset by those things, the approaching seasons are going to be really tough for us!  Like God told Jeremiah, “If you’re stumbling now on relatively smooth ground, you’re gonna be in a fix when you have to run through the tangled thickets of a world at flood stage!’  We haven’t seen anything yet!

Our families and friends need us to keep our wits about us!  Our demeanor should be calm, and God centered, minding our own stuff, not distracted by the host of “Oh my God, what if’s” that are vying for our attention.  “Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute . . . ” (1 Cor 16:13 The Message) The King James version says, “act like men!”  You know, grown, mature men and women who recognize this world as God’s world and understand our calling is to trust Him, follow Him, speak of Him, and worship Him.  We don’t have to rescue the world for Him.

“Surviving in a world of scarcity” was a well circulated document in the 1970’s.  Reams of Christians scrambled for ways to prepare to ‘do without.’  Fifty years later most of us have more, not less.  This is just a single example of taking our cues from the wrong source.  The Bible tells us how to live, and what to prepare for.  We live with an outlook of provision, and though the scriptures warn us of things, anxiety and a ‘bunker mentality’ is not our style.  A Biblical ‘caution’ isn’t a prophecy of certain calamity!

Jeremiah would be facing much greater challenges in the years ahead; things that would test his resolve and willingness to represent God.  Like all the Lord’s servants, he was armed with the promise that God would be with him.  And God will be with us too!

I don’t predict the future; I’m not a prophet.  If we read the Word, pray, and love our neighbor, when we need to receive a directive word, God knows how to get it to us.  If we walk in the Spirit, we’ll be amply prepared for whatever’s coming down!  “Happy is the man who finds wisdom . . . . all her paths are peace!”  (Prov. 3:17) That’s our style!