Jeremiah 6

15- “'Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at that time I will punish them, they shall be cast down,’ says the Lord.”

This entire chapter particularly struck me because it is written to a select group of people. Its application isn’t directed towards the obvious non-believer or non-Christian; instead, it is to a category of Christians who serve God and have accepted Him, yet their tolerance has caused them to stumble. Then, realizing that they were/are starting to drift in the wrong direction, they’ve walked “by the way” and “into the field” (vs. 25) rather than keeping to the path and plan that God has laid out. They tried to make amends…but not really. It says in verse 14, “They have also healed the hurt of my people slightly saying ‘Peace peace!’ when there is no peace.” That verse, using the adverb “slightly”, doesn’t mean that they made peace with God and His people “part of the way.” In my opinion, it was as if their heart wasn’t purely right. Drop one letter off of the word and it becomes “lightly,” which is really the attitude I saw in the passage. They aren’t taking their “peace-making” with God very seriously. But He is the almighty, omnipotent, and powerful Creator – He needs to be taken seriously! So He’s confronting them; about what? Their flexibility. They’re not heeding His word and partly due to being “calloused.”

The simple, yet so very complex truth is that we are all mirrors. Mirrors show/reflect what’s around us, the company that we keep. The attitudes of others penetrate our lives way more than we think; and the “company” being reflected may not always be human. I’m not talking about extra-terrestrial life…I mean companions like movies, music, books, whatever – we reflect those too. So if those things or the friends we hang out with are constantly reflected by us, they tend to soak in, little by little. With that, our comfort level changes and suddenly “certain little sins” aren’t so bad anymore. A friend and I briefly talked about the issue of modesty, something that God’s really been working with me on. She works in a “touristy” place and sees a lot of summer vacationers trying to “keep cool” in the hot weather by wearing less. It really impressed her to see a young lady dressed with the INTENTION of being modest. “People just don’t blush anymore!” she exclaimed. This passage, especially verse 15, obviously deals with much of the same issue. Sin is no longer a shame; it’s a way/part of life. Christians are told to basically just “deal with it.”

It’s the problem that arises when we tolerate sin, rather than fleeing it. “Flee youthful lusts,” Paul said to Timothy, “Pursue righteousness” instead. When I posted about purity and innocence, I encouraged you to be PROUD of the purity Christ’s death allowed us. I don’t mean a lack of humility; just that we should make a stand and be a light, not hide under a mask of unrighteousness. The same thing goes here. We need to be willing and ready to say “no.”[<-yeah, that’s a loaded phrase nowadays. >.<] Get out of the companionship of sin so that we can regain sensitivity to it, because the Lord’s mercy won’t last forever(Psalm 103), even though He loves us as His dear children. “Hear, o earth! Behold I will certainly bring calamity on this people – the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not heeded My words, nor My law, but rejected it.”(verse 19) Our thoughts have fruit, whether we like it or not. So if our minds are dwelling on ungodly things, it’s going to show up, whether it’s in our relationship with God, or our relationships with others.

My pastor’s wife recently gave me a brilliant illustration about what happens when we tolerate sin. Think of cinnamon and sugar, two separate and markedly different looking(and tasting) substances. What happens when you mix them? Well, even if it’s just a LITTLE cinnamon, the sugar has lost its pure white color and they make something entirely different. Once they’re mixed together, you can’t really tell a difference between the two. That’s EXACTLY what is happening in this chapter. – “Therefore they shall fall among those who fall.” If we look and act just like those who aren’t even professing to live for God, we share an equal fate. If our standards are the same, and our judgment the same, so will be the outcome of our judgment. So now, maybe with the slight flavor of witty retort, we might think, “Well duh! I’m a Christian. Of course I’m not supposed to be surrounded by and reflecting such filth!” But think harder. In full, verse 25 says, “Do not go out into the field, nor walk by the way. Because of the sword of the enemy, fear is on every side.” Have you ever been in a situation where it felt like that sword of the enemy was poised on your throat; where you would be committing “social suicide” not to just give in and blend in…or maybe…even just tolerate? Those are the times when the straight and narrow way seems utterly impossible. Although fear may be suffocating us, we’ve got to take comfort in heading God’s word. Fear of the Lord should always outweigh any selfishly based fear. As I’ve said many times before, all this doesn’t mean we should shun or abandon anyone who is isn’t “pure.” That’s just not even strategic. Our fear of God should COMPEL us to come alongside and minister to those people.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” -Acts 1:8

There’s a big difference between tolerating and loving and ministering to someone. “How can there be a lack of love in tolerance?” Well, if you truly love someone, are you really going to let them continue in something that will ultimately cost them the opportunity of eternity with God?
Also, our obedience and zeal for upholding the things of Lord effect way more people than we think. I’ve been shocked recently to discover just how much our neighbor knows about us, just from observing us from his yard [yeah, slightly creepy to me too]. We’ve been talking and visiting with him more often. But it brought to my attention the fact that, although they may not say anything, people pay pretty close attention to you, whether it’s your clothes, your language, or your attitude…you name it, they watch for it! If they’re a non-believer, it certainly doesn’t add any brownie points to your case for Christ if they know or even just think that you’re a backsliding hypocrite. Even worse, in my opinion, baby-christians or newly converted Christians may be looking to you for an example. How sad if they should be led in the wrong direction just because we didn’t want to be the “odd man out” and decided to tolerate sin. It’s unhealthy for them as well as us and our relationship with God.

Vs 29-30 – “The bellows blow fiercely, the lead is consumed by the fire; the smelter refines in vain, for the wicked are not drawn off. People will call them rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them.”

“Rejected silver.” Remember how precious we are to God? He formed each of us and as any father would, he most certainly wants to be close to us – to guide and protect us. But when we allow the impurities to get integrated into us, and then refuse to face up to it, making lame cover-ups of “peace,” the Smelter works in vain. What was created with a plan of beauty and worth becomes ugly, weak, and worthless. <- Some pretty harsh words, but how else do can you define rejected silver? It’s like the salt that loses its flavor and therefore its purpose, becoming fit for no more than to be trampled underfoot by lowly mankind [Matt. 5] . That’s pretty sad loss. Especially since He’s trying to refine us, the bellows are blowing fiercely; but unless we consciously choose to sacrifice ourselves and cling to Him rather than evil, it’s in vain. Sacrifice can be so difficult, whether it’s sacrificing wealth, or hopes and dreams that aren’t according to His purpose. But think of it this way: When I stand before God, there’s no way I’m going to say, “Oh, I wish I hadn’t done that one thing for You, God,” or “Aww man! I wish I hadn’t made that one sacrifice for You.” No. Every possible opportunity to glorify God and even sacrifice for Him, is SO worth taking advantage of! And we can rejoice in a position that allows us to do so because that IS our intended purpose.

If you were to take a quick glance at yourself what do you think you would see? Would you see someone who was always ready to stand up for what’s righteous; or someone who is flexible and easily bending with the waves of society, the waves that take sin lightly and force tolerance on those who don’t stand firmly on the Word of the Lord?

Jeremiah 6:16- “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls’…”

Priceless Purity and Innocence

“Dear Princess,” he responded, “few treasures are so easily lost as thy purity – yet few so important to keep.”

Purity is a subject that has been heavy on my heart lately. And I don’t really mean sexual purity, because while that is an important goal/attribute, most of us already know about it and hear about it on a regular basis. My thoughts have been focused on inner purity- purity of motives and desire.

The above quote is from a book I recently began reading called Before You Meet Prince Charming. It’s a book directed towards young girls (about 11-15) and the call to have radiant purity. Kayla and I have decided to study scripture and a few other texts together so that hopefully, in the near future, we can lead a study with younger girls in our homeschool group and churches. I’m really looking forward to it as a time to build up my relationship with her, the young girls, and most importantly- God.

In Before You Meet Prince Charming, the author throws in a few sections of a “fairy tale” about a young(16), innocent princess who has been protected and adored by her father, the King. One day, she began to question if there was something wrong with her innocence – “But if I never experience the real world, I fear I will never fit in.”

[According to Random House Dictionary of the English Language - College Edition...]
Innocence: n. 1. The quality or state of being innocent; freedom from sin or moral wrong. 2. Chastity or purity “She has not lost her innocence.” 3. Freedom from legal or specific wrong; guiltlessness. 4. Simplicity; guiltlessness; ingeniousness. 5. Lack of knowledge or understanding naïveté of an unworldly person. 6. Harmlessness; innocuousness...
[For the rest of this post, try to think of the word “innocent” as including ALL those definitions of the word, unless I specifically describe one definition. You can throw rocks at me later if you really disagree, but that’s the viewpoint I’ve taken through this study. ]

Innocence (in the sense of sheltered innocence) is looked on in such a negative light. It’s true, we shouldn’t separate ourselves from the world because we need to experience it and be able to connect with others on a reasonable level in order to be effective spreading the Gospel. But being innocent can also mean being blameless, or guiltless. God washes away our sin and restores us – even makes us brand new creatures, but we are supposed to maintain and keep that purity to the best of our abilities. Placing yourself in a situation that could potentially lead to sin isn’t excusable just because “I need to connect with others and understand them.” Pure light is not meant to be covered up by even a façade of ungodliness; it’s supposed to stand on a pedestal to shine into the lives of others.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Experience with pain and trials is not what I’m saying we should be "innocent" about; because those, in most cases, DO have meaning and potential. We aren’t supposed to bury our head in the sand and look for shelter every time a trial arises in our life. No. Those are the times when we need to rely on God to direct us, point out our weaknesses in our relationship with Him, and help us learn from it – grow and be strengthened. 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

The pure innocence of a child is beautiful, not shameful, and it isn’t biased. A child who is truly innocent won’t seem so in front of some people and not in front of others. While it’s tempting, we can’t allow ourselves, as children of the King, to be “pure” in only one section of our lives. After all, God sees every piece to the puzzle, not just the pretty ones.

Motive is where I’ve recently questioned my own purity; and to my dismay and frustration, I discovered that it wasn’t as pure as I’d allowed myself to believe. Giving your heart to God is best source of protection, comfort, and peace that you can ever hope for. I was disappointed to realize that I had allowed pieces of my own heart, which I knew God was asking me to give entirely to Him, to be chipped away. What is more fulfilling than loving and having a relationship with God? Nothing; yet I, in the past, had become discontent and ended up losing even a small portion of what could have been given over to Him as whole and –well, pure. But now, through His grace, I’ve been remade and no longer need to feel unworthy to enter His presence. (<- A post on that subject coming soon :D )

So, my point, which I went way off on a terrible rabbit trail to explain (sorry), is this – Even if we know that our purity and innocence before God has already been tainted or maybe even shattered, He is ready to wash it away completely. Then, – coming back to the quote – we need to KEEP it as the priceless treasure that it is. When I think about how important it is for us to please and remain purely beautiful in the sight of the Lord, I can’t help but wonder how we could risk that purity, which He loves, for things that are temporary and don’t really matter. “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” It’s easy to get caught up in impure things because we think under “finite” terms. Pressure to sin and desire for popularity, wealth, and attention are RIGHT THERE in front of us; but God? He’s way of in the distance – you know, eternity. :P The thing is, He is INFINITE. Infinite doesn’t just mean He goes on forever in the future, it means that He is without boundary. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) We TALK to Him daily, constantly (or should anyways) and we can FEEL His presence, we can SEE His wondrous miracles. So why do we act as if He doesn’t see the sin in our lives right now? The lyrics to a beautiful song remind me of the kind of attitude I want to have toward my walk with Him. “I don’t want to talk about You like You’re not in the room. I want to look right at You. I want to sing right to You.” As a friend recently testified to me: “No more secret sin!” Admit it and do you and your Creator a huge favor by handing it over. He’s not going to condemn you; He’s going to be overjoyed to relieve a burden off of His beloved child’s back.

Stop for a second and think about where our purity –our light- comes from. It’s because of our redemption through Him that we can be white as snow, He commanded the light to shine on and out from us. “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of us, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of knowledge and of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6. Our purity, while it is cherished and respected by the people around us, can never be as adored as it is by the One who gave His son that we might achieve it. Protect and be proud of your purity. Don’t let your shield of faith lower, along with your standards and zeal for serving God. Or if you haven’t already, there is no better time than right now to attain purity, to be redeemed and saved by the blood of Jesus. I encourage you to discover the fulfillment and hope that comes from a personal relationship with Someone who loves you and finds you so precious that He gave His only son to die on a cross…just to save YOU; so that you can dwell with Him in heaven for eternity. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” - Matthew 13:45

John 14:23 – “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him.”