“Keep the Faith”
By Rev. Everett R. Kimble, Sr.
“O Lord, you misled me, and I allowed myself to be misled. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me. When I speak, the words burst out. ‘Violence and destruction!’ I shout. So these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke. But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!”’ (Jeremiah 20:7-9)
Fire is destructive and reports of fire usually reflect that; house fire, car fire, building fire. One very destructive fire we have seen a lot in recent years is the wildfire which often starts in an area dense in brush, shrubs, and trees, and then proceeds to burn anything and everything it comes near. Wildfires are known for their ability to hit hard and fast. There are also fires that can appear to be destructive, but they are prescribed or controlled burns. These fires are set by experts under specific conditions that help restore health to fire adaptive environments.
In this passage, Jeremiah is beginning to feel like a wildfire. The truth of God burning inside of him was beginning to burn out of control. Jeremiah was prophesying of coming death and destruction and because of his prophesies the temple priest had him arrested and whipped. When the people heard him powerfully prophesying about their sinful lives with the truth of the Word they begin to mock and laugh at him. What Jeremiah would soon come to realize is he was not a wildfire, but rather a controlled burn sent by God to tell the truth.
Right now, some of you have a sinking sensation that you too are burning out of control. You are firmly standing on the promises and word of God and yet your friends are angry with you. You speak the truth when no one else will speak up and you are being shunned because of it. You are doing all the things that your faith is prompting you to do and it feels right, but the response you expected is all wrong. My encouragement for you today is to keep the faith. You are not a wildfire; you are a controlled burn set by God. Often when years of sin and destruction have had a chance to build up it takes and strong word from God to burn through it and burn it down. God can and will use His faithful followers to step in and deliver what is needed not what is popular. I am not denying that the fire in you is hot, and it may be burning things down, but with God’s grace you are also building things up. If and when you have the fire of God burning in you just let it burn.
“But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!” (Jer. 20:9 NLT)
Turn up the fire and have a blessed and Spirit filled Friday!
