Running With The Horses, Part 8
We have been looking at Jeremiah 12 these last several months and now we want to conclude our series by looking once again at the question and God’s answer.
Jeremiah 12:1-5 “You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet you know me, Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, “He will not see what happens to us. If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses.”
So is it that God does not care about His people? Does God turn a blind eye when the wicked keep on being wicked? Or could it be that God uses the wicked so He can do a work in us? We may gain a little insight from Hebrews 5:8-9, “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
If Yeshua was made perfect by His sufferings then we too, must also be made perfect by what we suffer.
We have been looking mainly at God’s response because we see something that is of the utmost importance to us. In Jeremiah 12:5 God asks, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?”
God is preparing His people for a time in which they will need to be strong and courageous to overcome what lies ahead. We have seen a steady decline in this country over the last few months. We have seen many people become sick and die from a virus, a country shut down and locked down for weeks. Fear took hold of many people. No sooner did we see anger and protest and looting and burning of many cities. Quickly as law and order went awry we were defunding our law enforcement officers. Chaos broke out in our streets and murders increased. Before we could even take a breath, our history was being destroyed and America was coming apart at the seams. And you say, “All of this just to prepare us for what is still to come?”
Yes, but there is still one more thing we must put on to fight the battle to overcome and Paul tells us in Colossians 3:5-17,
“Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Messiah is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Messiah rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Messiah richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
We must put on the new self. So how can we put on the new self if we don’t understand the old self? We see that the old self had it’s evil practices and the old self was self serving. The old self serves for the purposes of the world and serves the ruler of this world, but the new is just the opposite. We must let go of the world’s ways and beliefs and in reality we are putting on God, His glory and righteousness. We take off our filthy rags and robe ourselves in garments of splendor, garments of the priesthood. We must put on godliness and holiness and the foundation to this is love. Love is the complete opposite of hatred. Yeshua tells us that they will know that we are His disciples by our love. Love overcomes
all wickedness. We are running a race to the finish and if and when we finish, we must finish with the Torch of God in our hand, for God has called us to be the Light of the world. James 1:12 tells us, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.’
Are you an overcomer? Consider Revelation 7:13-14,“Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.’” Having trouble with what is going on in the world? How will you run with the horses? Let God prepare you so you will be able to stand.
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