The Only True Promise

Scripture: When Baruch son of Neriah wrote on a scroll the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: You said, ‘Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.’ But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’” Jeremiah 45:1-5

Observation: Baruch has just heard the word that God is going to destroy Judah, and every Israelite will either be killed or exiled. In his distress, God provides Baruch with both a promise and instruction. The promise is that Baruch's life will be spared throughout the ordeal. The instruction, however, is related to a right understanding of God's authority, and thus what it really means to be faithful.

To paraphrase: God has authority over all the world - he can create everything, and thus everything is his to destroy if he were to so choose. Therefore, why is Baruch worried about what he is trying to accomplish in his life? Baruch cannot accomplish anything for himself, but only as the Lord provides. Therefore, quit trying to seek earthly accomplishments, and if you're faithful God will take care of your life.

However, the promise is also still interesting. The promise is not to prosper Baruch, or to allow him to escape the punishment that is coming, or in any way to honor him. It is simply to let him know he won't be killed throughout the curse that is about to befall Judah.

Application: While I absolutely know God has provided all things in my life, what I fear in life is the "promise" that Baruch received. I do know I cannot accomplish earthly things without God's provision, but I wish that what God would then promise me IS earthly accomplishments. I want security in retirement, my comfortable house, promotion at work, leisure time, quality lifestyle. I have all these things through God's blessing, but I want them promised.

That is NOT the promise. The promise is very simple - life. In fact, the only true promise of faith in Jesus is eternal life. Everything else is a result of a temporary decision God is making to reflect his love for me in certain ways, right now. The sooner I can let go of that - the sooner I can accept the idea that when (not if) these things are removed from me - I'll be ready to understand that hardships are not the removal of blessing, but rather they are part of earthly life and by my faith in Jesus I will never lose the true promise of an amazing eternal life.

Baruch lamented the loss of earthly accomplishment, and God corrected him ... those accomplishments were not Baruch's, but they were God's blessing, and thus they were his to command; Baruch would be rewarded for his faith not by material provision, but life.

Prayer: Lord, you are my provider - Yahweh-yireh. I often thank you for the provision in my life, but I fail to focus on what you have REALLY provided me, which is a relationship with Jesus Christ and eternal life through my belief in Jesus. This is a blessing beyond measure, greater than all treasure or even the whole world. Thank you for your promise of life. As I mature, may I focus on that as not only the only true promise, but that it is also the only thing I even need - the only promise of any true value. Amen.