In the Latter Days Ye Shall consider It...the Wayfarer 7/7/14

In the Latter Days Ye Shall consider It
7/7/14

“And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.

The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days, ye shall consider it.”

(Jeremiah 30:22-24)

The verses opened with state quite clearly that the time must come when the actuality of BEING God’s people is imperative, as the wrath spoken of throughout this book of prophecy cannot be avoided without that first taking place.

The final verse with which I chose to open today states clearly that that that wrath, that anger, will not be withdrawn until such time as that actual BEING occurs, and the intent of God’s plan is fulfilled.

Just as Jeremiah foretold the wrath and anger, the captivity; and with it the persecution and abuses that had to be suffered, so too did Jesus foretell that coming wrath and anger, and the need to BE God’s people. This 30^th Chapter of warning is followed by the promise to be found in the 31^st, the blessings mentioned in the 30^th that were to be withheld until that being became reality would be given in return for that being, for those who actually chose to do so, those few, that remnant that remembered where the blessings came from instead of relying on themselves instead of God.

The 31^st chapter also contains warnings for those refusing to comply with the given requirement to return to that BEING.

“But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.”

(Jeremiah 31:30)

That old prophet did not conclude his warnings, and promises without bearing witness to the fact that there would be a better way, a new way, a complete way, to attain that being!

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.

Not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt: which my covenant they brake, although I was an Husband unto them, saith the Lord:

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying Know the Lord: for they shall know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

(Jeremiah 31:31-34)

That new covenant was delivered, in entirety, by the Son of God, Christ Jesus through his ministry, teachings and sacrifice for the forgiveness of that iniquity, and to remove the remembrance of that sin.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

(John 3:17)

Each and every teaching, each and every parable, each thing done throughout the ministry of Christ, was done with love and compassion with the constant reminder of what the INTENT of GOD is for man.

Each admonishment in what is to be done by men, each rebuke given for failures of those men, each and every action taken by Christ was the writing of that new covenant, intended to be written on the hearts of men instead of on their lips, as they speak continually of them, yet fail to keep them where intended, in their hearts.

That remnant does exist! There are those who actually KNOW and DO.

The proof is exhibited in the oddest, smallest and often overlooked ways that manifest themselves clearly in daily life: simple things, acts that are out of character for a nation in denial of Christ and that new covenant given by him.

I have been privileged to see this covenant being honored in unexpected places and in the simplest most honest ways possible several times this past week.

Having devoted time, quite often, to noting the lack of these actions, equal time must be given to the fact that there are those still who take the time to help a stranger, never questioning monetary reward, having no expectation of anything in return, except perhaps words of thanks, seeing a need; and fulfilling that need without ever being asked.

These may not even know who they are, because they saw nothing exceptional in their acts of kindness, but those acts were exceptional to this old preacher who sees so few of them, among a people in total disregard for their need of BEING.

Yes, that remnant is in existence, alive and well, with the words of that covenant written in their heart, whether recognized by other men or not, most certainly recognized by the One who took the time to teach, to do, and to die, to give those very teachings to us.

Jeremiah reminded Israel that there was a reason for God’s continual presence with them, and why the remembrance of that presence is required:

“For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and not leave thee altogether unpunished.

For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.

There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.”

(Jeremiah 30:11-13)

Until that new covenant was given, there was indeed no one to intercede for the bruises and wounds that were continually perpetrated by the people in contravention and denial of God, no hope for any of them, yet He chose to promise the provision of that covenant, then, fulfilled that promise through Christ.

Christ became the intercessor for our sins, the mediator between us and God, the means back into the grace of God, the author of what is to be written on each heart, if not erased by the continued denial of what is written.

Christ told us that He is the Way, the Truth and The life. Those truly in compliance with what His simplest requirements are will follow that Way, speak, and live and show that Truth, and can expect that promised Life.

Those “latter days” spoken of in the title and the opening are here for all.

For some those days are far fewer than for others.

God alone determines the length of each life, and how long the ability to consider what has been given us is allowed.

With no promise of even one more day, for any man, that consideration should be given continuously, that requirement given by Christ throughout his ministry should be heeded, and, as is being observed by the few of that remnant, the commandment left us should be written on each heart and evidenced through actions, such as those that prompted this message.

With the firm and full knowledge that I alone can do nothing, can teach nothing, can accomplish nothing, I simply call attention to the words of the One whose teachings are intended to be written on the hearts of men:

“Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”

 “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done unto you.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord: neither is he that is sent greater than him that sent him.

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye love also one another.”

Amen and Amen!

the Wayfarer