My Own Way

I will go my OWN way... anyways…

Jeremiah 42:2"Please let our petition come before you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, that is for all this remnant; because we are left but a few out of many, as your own eyes now see us,”

With lot of expectations, during my initial days after salvation, I went to attend a prayer meeting of a prophet not to hear prophecy but to hear the Word of God. However, when the man of God walked up the pulpit he said:’ I am fed up of preaching the Word of God with passion and burden, after 6 months when I come back to the place where I preached, I find them worse than before’, therefore, I have decided not to preach. Having come from a simple Christian background, I was alarmed with such bold, frank words from the prophet; nevertheless, he said I will be sharing my testimony. God did a miracle, I was touched by his testimony, God moved in our midst and I surrendered my life to Christ for full time ministry and never went back on my word.

a) HYPOCRISY:

Is it not true that people who speak volumes at the altar and surrender their lives turn utter cold shortly after the heat of the meeting subsides?? Despite hearing million sermons, people Go their own way, anyways…..This is our point of discussion today, coming back to the scripture that we have taken for meditation today, the petition from the people looks very innocent, emotional and genuine; they also did not stray here and there but straight came to the right prophet for advice; however, if your spiritual eyes look further than the outer layer, we can see how shallow and superficial it is. Look at the words, “pray for us to the LORD your God.” Not our God but your God, did not the Word say that bad tree is known from its fruits. Matthew 7:17” bad tree bears bad fruit.” At some point people blurt out something and thus expose their wickedness. This shows downright hypocrisy!

b) TRUSTING IN CHARIOTS AND HORSES IS VAIN:

There was tremendous danger for the people of God, so verse 42:1 starts like this: all the commanders of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people both small and great approached Jeremiah.”

They approached Jeremiah alright; but they had already determined their hearts to go to Egypt: read: Jeremiah 41: 17 And they went and stayed in Geruth Chimham, which is beside Bethlehem, in order to proceed into Egypt 18 because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them..”

The people trusted in wrong leaders, the leaders gave in to fear rather than trust God, the wicked hearts of the people said ‘Lord, Lord….but their hearts trusted in Chariots.” That reminds me of the words of Jesus: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?(Luke 6:46) “’These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.(Matthew 15:8)

c) PEOPLE WERE NOT READY TO LISTEN:

After 10 days, Jeremiah heard from the Lord, (Jeremiah 42:7) but the people were not ready to listen, they said: "You are telling a lie! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, 'You are not to enter Egypt to reside there';(Jeremiah 43:2)

These are the last days and the people do not want to listen to advices, sound doctrine and the truth but they want fancy fables, Apostle Paul gives a profound warning about itching ears:

2 Timothy 4:3”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

In today’s computer savvy era with tight schedules, people do not want to separate time for God, read His word but they want prophets to give them good prophesies about their future. The Lord sends warnings to such prophets: Jeremiah 23:

16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the LORD.

17 "They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The LORD has said, "You will have peace"'; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, 'Calamity will not come upon you.'

d) PEOPLE CHOOSE TO GO THEIR OWN WAY:

Jeremiah 42:19”The LORD has spoken to you, O remnant of Judah, "Do not go into Egypt!"

TRUSTING AND OBEYING GOD UNCONDITIONALLY MEANS WE NEED TO SURRENDER OUR MIND AND REASONING ALSO INTO HIS HANDS. Sometimes God would expect us to take a route that is arduous, tough and scary; however, we need to follow Him wholeheartedly.