JerCh32

“ THE RISK OF FAITH IN GOD”

Jeremiah Chapter 32

There are word pictures that are used often to explain what happens to people whose lives are openly watched by others. Sometimes we refer to such experiences as being “center stage”. We might also use the phrase being “in the spotlight” with the same intended meaning. Since the English language is rich in phraseology, we could go on and on with examples concerning living a very public testimony or example in front of others. My favorite phrase to describe this reality, in life, is to talk of a person living “in a fishbowl”. You know what happens with aquariums or fishbowls. I used to have an aquarium in my pastor’s office. No matter who was in my office, as we talked, their attention was regularly focused on the fish swimming in front of their gaze while they unloaded a deep concern or shared an exciting event. Aquariums are designed to be seen, not hidden from view. People, however, don’t like to live life in an aquarium. Apart from individuals who crave and strive for egotistical trips into stardom, the great majority of people prefer to live their life without much fanfare or attention. Simply put, most folk want privacy from others. It is one of the leading rights Americans strive to achieve.

This tendency of the human heart wasn’t a part of God’s original creation. At the beginning God made Adam and Eve and the Bible tells us in Genesis 2:25, “the man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame”. They were completely vulnerable and on display to the totality of the created world. Then, an amazing thing happened on the way to a tree. We call it temptation. Adam and Eve disobeyed God, ate the fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. It was then that they discovered they were naked. Genesis 3:21 tells us, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them”. Ever since that time the natural inclination of the human race is to be clothed and to hide from one another. In a positive sense it is “modesty” and in a negative sense it is “deceit”. Both aspects are a part of every person’s emotional and mental makeup.

The Creator God, who made man in His own image, recognized that following the entrance of a sinful nature into the human psyche: people will desire mystery, privacy and protection from others. Isn’t it amazing how the history of the human race includes so many dimensions that stem from the moral fall of mankind?

But, let’s use this opening to address a major lesson in ministry found in the pages of Jeremiah 32. To summarize this book of prophecy thus far, the prophet Jeremiah has been given a call of representing God to the citizens of Judah. The message he was to proclaim is wrapped up in a simple command from God. These people were going to be punished for their ongoing, continual sin. God tells them (through this young man) that they are not to fight the discipline coming their way. The Babylonians were besieging Jerusalem. The people in the city were to surrender and allow the Babylonians to take them into captivity. Some, living in the surrounding Judean towns, had already been taken; transplanted into the enemy’s homeland. The people of God deserved it, because of their sin!

So that we can understand the dynamics of Jewish thinking at this time, in chapter 29:24-28 we read of a Hebrew priest living among the captives, already in Babylon. This priest writes personal letters to those besieged in Jerusalem. His letters are written to incite those in Judah to fight the Babylonians and fight to the last man. This individual specifically advises the new High Priest, in Jerusalem, to punish Jeremiah. The reason is stated overtly. “He has sent this message to us in Babylon, ‘It will be a long time. Therefore build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce’.” (29:28)

The message of God, given through Jeremiah, is clear! The people under siege in Jerusalem did not want to hear what God told Jeremiah to proclaim. They rejected it and actively opposed God’s will. But, this is not the end of the story. In chapter 32 the prophet is told to do something very unusual; almost weird if you really look at it. God tells His prophet to get ready for a personal visit that will happen in a very short time. God tells Jeremiah, according to 32:7-8, that his cousin, who lived across town, will come and offer him a chance to buy a field. True to God’s message it happened just as God said. There is a key to this whole passage that comes next. Jeremiah writes verses 8-9, “I knew this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field”.

But here the plot thickens. What God was requiring of His prophet put him right smack-dab in the “fishbowl”. In order to obey his God Jeremiah would have to go through escrow. In those days it was much as it is today. It was a very public event. Jeremiah had to bring his silver coinage and have it weighed at the official transaction center. (v. 9) He then had to sign and seal the deed have it witnessed; exchange it with the silver money. (v. 10) Then, he took all this to the title company: deed and the duplicate for recording. (v. 11) The documents were given to the County Clerk in the presence of Jeremiah’s cousin and the witnesses. This was done in front of the government officials “sitting in the courtyard of the guard”. (v.12) Jeremiah was told by God to preserve the documents, in typical fashion of those days, in clay jars. (v.14) The Dead Sea Scrolls are a classic example of this method of document preservation. Now; we come to the purpose God has for ordering His prophet to go through this real estate transaction! We read in verse 15, “For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says; ‘Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”

The God of Israel, who offered His people no pardon from judgment, because of their sin, asks Jeremiah to personally demonstrate faith in God’s word by buying a field. He was to put his own money on the line. You need to understand that no one, in Jerusalem, thought there was any hope for the future of Israel. No one was buying property at this time. Babylon possessed all of it but the city, itself. And God tells Jeremiah to take the step of faith and let everyone in town see his actions and realize he completely believed God. He is to make it legal, a matter of public record. He is to jump into a fishbowl, if you please, and put his money where his mouth is.

Let’s put this in perspective. From the call to ministry and throughout his life Jeremiah experienced, apart from this risky business venture; rejection, ridicule, harassment, imprisonment without due process, threats on his life, actual false arrest and kidnapping and even living in the pit of the palace outhouse. All of this in order to serve His Lord. And are you ready for this? HE DID IT WILLLINGLY AND OBEDIENTLY!

Which leads me to the main point of this sermon today: WHEN GOD CALLS HIS PEOPLE TO MINISTRY (AND HE DOES), HE USUALLY BRINGS A SITUATION INTO THEIR LIVES WHERE THEY MUST TAKE A RISK TO HAVE FAITH IN HIM! Did you grasp all that this young man had to go through in order to fulfill ministry? As we look at this passage today, are you and I ready to accept such risk? Please believe me, as a student of the Bible, I have discovered that God brings His servants through the gauntlet of risky faith.

I also realize that human nature being what it is; our hearts do not run toward such risk. Most Christians today are reticent and fearful of such zealous commitment. This is no more a popular message today, than it was in Jeremiah’s day. Yet, briefly there are at least three reasons why God (often) calls His people to such drastic discipleship.

First of all, God breaks His people open in front of others so that no one can say, “Well, it’s easy for Christians to believe in God, they don’t have to face what we are going through.” God has called His people to serve Him and show non-Christians how life is supposed to be lived. That way people who are not believers in God not only know the Word of God but see it in action. Part of the problem with the witness of the Christian church today is that a simple profession of belonging to God is enough for Christians. They say

one thing and then live for themselves and make no commitments. It usually doesn’t take any faith to live casually. Real faith emerges through living visibly before others who have no faith.

Secondly, God knows that humans (including Christians) grow most when they are under adversity. Opposition often becomes the force that requires people to become mature, build stamina and be victorious. This is particularly true when the key ingredient is dependence on God rather than on one’s own abilities. Taking risk, by itself, brings people into contact with the realness of exercising faith. To realize that God does not call His people to take the easy road conforms to His calling His own Son to give His life as a ransom for our sins.

Thirdly, a life of faith is God’s way of separating the “committed remnant” of His flock from those who only profess faith, rather than live it. Professing Christ is so easy to do, especially these days. Yet to live a separated life of actually living our faith requires time, effort, perseverance and sacrifice. It is commanded in James 1:22, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!”

Jesus, Himself, spoke of the contrast between a broad road followed by the majority of believers and a narrow road followed by the minority of believers. (Matthew 7:13-14) Jesus also teaches that His followers must take up their cross daily and follow Him. (Luke 9:23)

There is an old-time gospel song that summarizes the expectation Christians must have in regard to living lives of risky faith. God will bring us to such a place of risk on a regular basis. It is in risk that ministry is done. Ask Jeremiah about it. You certainly know what his answer will be! ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE RISK?

It's Not An Easy Road

It's not an easy road

We are trav'ling to heaven,

For many are the thorns on the way,

It's not an easy road,

But the Savior is with us,

His presence gives us joy ev'ry day.

Chorus

No, no, it's not an easy road,

But Jesus walks beside me

And brightens the journey,

And lightens ev'ry heavy load.

It's not and easy road

There are trials and troubles,

And many are the dangers we meet,

But Jesus guards and keeps

So that nothing can harm us,

And smoothes the rugged path for our feet.

(Chorus)

Though I am often footsore

And weary from travel,

Though I am often bowed down with care,

A better day is coming

When home in the glory

We'll rest in perfect peace over there.

(Chorus)

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