03/07/2024 – Living in Babylon
Jeremiah 29: 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.
God warned His people as they faced the reality of captivity in Babylon to stop pursuing their own dreams. The world encourages us to follow our dreams, but the Bible warns against it. The world says: if you can dream it, you can do it. This is only true if your dreams come from God and not from your own desires. One of the most damaging influences in a person’s life comes from unrealistic ideals regarding our circumstances. We become convinced that if we could be in a certain place, have unlimited resources, achieve a certain goal, life will have a perfect life. But for those who are in Christ, God has promised us abundant life despite our circumstances.
God told His people how they should live in Babylon. He said to plant and to eat the fruit. The word of God is so powerful that it can produce a harvest even in Babylon. An abundant life is one that plants a harvest for the future. One of the greatest works of faith is planting a seed and trusting in God to bring a harvest. We cannot stop planting because conditions are not ideal. Remember the Sower. He did not spot spreading the seed even when the ground was rocky and full of thorns. Spread the word everywhere!
And do not forget to eat the fruit of your labor! You must reject the bad fruit but also take the time to approach the tree of life and enjoy the fruit of it. It is truly good to eat! For the lost, the tree of life is not attractive or enjoyable. But for those who are in Christ, there is untold joy in partaking of Him and of the fruit or our labor in Him! Learn to enjoy life! In His presence there is fullness of Joy! And we are not far from the presence of God!