I remember the months leading up to the time when I entered into the US Air Force, I was spending every day working out. I was not in the best shape of my life but I also wasn't far from where I needed to be either. There were three main requirements for our physical endurance. We all had to perform at least 30 push ups in under two minutes, at least 45 sit ups in under two minutes and we had to run two miles in under 15 minutes.
My pastor at the time was very excited I was joining the armed forces and was a huge supporter and in fact, he not only encouraged me, he guided me in the early stages of my work out. I discovered almost immediately that I needed to focus on my push ups and my running. So that’s exactly what I did. Each day, i pushed a little harder and ran a little farther and did one more push up.
Finally the day arrived when I landed with about five other people in Texas for basic training. When the time came for our first physical endurance evaluation, I had to hide my smile because i knew beyond a doubt I would pass the sit ups and the running portion. I still struggled with the push ups but I knew they could help me with that.
We began with our sit ups and I passed that with no problem. Then, we moved on to the push ups, which I was about ten away from where I needed to be. The instructors came over to let us know that this was an intake evaluation and they wanted to know where we were and what they were working with. They were not at this point concerned with us passing each step.
Finally the run came. I struggled with running but in the weeks leading up to this, I was running faster and longer than I ever had in my entire life. I still remember to this day, running for about an hour straight, a run that included running up and down hills. So, I believed I could pass this. I was wrong!
As I began running, the one thing that stood out in my mind was that everyone was passing me. My immediate thought was they were going for gold and trying to impress the instructors. I, on the other hand, had no intention of doing anything other than passing the two mile marker in under 15 minutes.
When I arrived at the two mile marker, I was barely running, I was completely out of breath and I was shocked when I heard the instructor yell out, “Twenty-five minutes.” I was devastated and didn’t know what to think anymore. My spirit was broken.
As I began basic training and specifically the cardiovascular exercise, we began wind sprints. I will gladly tell you that wind sprints are both terrible and effective! In a wind sprint, you are with a group of five other individuals running at a moderate pace. Whomever is in the back sprints to the front of the group and then the process is repeated, again and again and again. You are running a moderate pace for close to a minute and then sprinting as fast as you can for about ten or fifteen seconds. Those sprinting intervals become more difficult over the course of the run but they are highly effective.
I didn’t realize it at the time but those wind sprints were conditioning my body to handle the two mile run. It was more than just getting in shape, the wind sprints helped my endurance and my speed. At the halfway point through basic training, I was capable of running the two miles in about seventeen minutes. Later, at the end of Basic, I completed the requirement of running under fifteen minutes with a time of 14:40.
Sometimes there are things in our lives which we must undergo and endure even though we may not understand the reason(s) for them. In this particular case, I really didn’t understand why or how wind sprints were helping me but they were.
The same truth can be applied to the Holy Scriptures. To understand them, interpret them properly and for the transforming power of the Gospel to take affect, we must understand the context behind the words we read. For many years, I have found complete comfort in specific passages such as Jeremiah 29:11 which reads, “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
This well known verse has often been citied when believers are facing difficult situations or when they are at a crossroads and unsure of their next step. I’ve even reminded myself of this Scripture following a rejection letter when I sent out my resume for a pastoral position which I was interested in. I used the Scripture to refer to my own circumstances that God was in control and he knew what he was doing. In short, he had my back.
Now, please hear me out. God does in fact have our back. God is actively involved in the lives of his children and he knows what we are going through. Whether we are facing a job loss, a job change, a severe sickness or medical operation, God knows what we are facing. As such, he does have our back and he does have a plan for our lives. God’s plans are always for our good, always. I believe the Scriptures are written for us and we ought to respond to the teachings and the hope contained within.
So, to give the Scripture context, Jeremiah is a prophet writing a letter to the nation of Israel who had become enslaved and this enslavement was a direct result of their disobedience. Israel had been living in rebellion against God and as such he was pronouncing judgment against them. When I read Jeremiah twenty nine in context, I was blown away.
When we think about this passage on a Biblical level, God was speaking to a nation that was going into captivity. Their way of life was coming to an end and they were heading towards slavery. Enslavement was an internal aspect of God’s overall plan for Israel. While it isn’t always easy nor pleasant to think about this but the truth is, God was allowing the enemies of Israel to take over them and to enslave them. On the surface, these are dark times embracing the nation of Israel but God allowed this to be part of his plan. Because it was part of his plan, God could speak through Jeremiah and encourage the people with the truth that he knew his plans and they were unfolding perfectly.
Jeremiah 29:12-13|
“In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”
Did you catch what God said in that verse? God was telling
these Israelites that even though they are going to face a dark and somewhat uncertain future, they can continue to seek him! It is and never has been about the plan but about the person of God!
I believe the number one reason we can get so sidetracked is that our focus is shifted to where we are, where we were or where we are going rather than placing our eyes on Jesus, …”the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” (Heb. 12:2)
One of the last times I heard Jeremiah 29:11 referenced was as a way to encourage someone who didn’t get the job they wanted. While I understand encouragement, Jeremiah was writing to a nation who were enslaved and they were losing their way of life and losing hope! It wasn’t written to show you that you not getting the job you interviewed for means your life is over; it means that life is going to throw somethings your way and things can get bad for a very long time but God has a plan!
I think sometimes we like to incorporate encouragement into our lives when things are not going our way and we are desperately trying to believe that God is with us and for us. I don’t disagree with that line of thinking at all. I believe that we must hold on to the promises God gives to us. His promise is for us; his promise is to enable us to carry on. His promise is there to guide us on our journey and to provide strength as we grow weaker in our flesh.
Transferring the promise of God into our lives is never wrong. However, God’s plan to give us a future isn’t centered on us getting the job we applied for, or getting into the right college or having enough money to pay the bills. The will of God may very well include that but our line of thinking has shifted to where God is all about us. What is God’s will for my life has become a norm when our line of thinking should be asking, “God, what is your will and how does my life fit into that will?”
We, as believers, should rethink our way of life with a Gospel centered theology and we should always be about the person of Jesus. God’s promise in Jeremiah is so clearly seen in those who have come to trust in Christ. While we are not the nation of Israel, we are a chosen generation, we are being grafted into the family of God because we all have come under the captivity of sin. God’s promise of a future hope points to Jesus.
Psalm 71:18|
“Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.”
In Psalm 71:18 David’s desire is to share the story of God with those who have yet to hear it. God’s love and power is so important to him that he wants to share the message of God with those who will carry it on. God is everything to David. God is not a part of David’s life; David is a part of God’s life. God is not a part of David’s story; David is a part of God’s story.
The process to rethink everything begins when everything becomes about Jesus. The Bible is all about Jesus. Grace is all about Jesus. Being a Christian is all about Jesus. Our lives are all about Jesus. Our lives are to always be a reflection of Jesus, the one who lives in us. The cross and the empty tomb are all about Jesus. I want my story to be all about Jesus. I’m alright with being a footnote so God is glorified.
As believers, we are given the honor and the privilege to not only serve God and speak the truth of the gospel to those who are enslaved but we have the opportunity to share this news so the next generation might hear of his fame and seek God Almighty. The first step in understanding the call God has placed on our lives is to acknowledge who God says we are. We, as believers, must begin to grasp our new identity in Christ. From our identity, we are called to join God in his movement and be his anthem to the world around us.
Our ministry is the extension of Christ’s ministry and we join with him to accomplish all that he has called and prepared for us.
