Jeremiah 29:5 (NLT)5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce.

Have you ever known someone who quotes a phrase from someone as PROOF of a certain point, but when you hear the entire quote, you are shocked to realize that the opposite is true.  Sometimes folks do this intentionally to prooftext their point in favor of the argument they make, or they do so out of ignorance.  This particular verse could easily fall into the latter category.  On the surface, it might be Jeremiah just encouraging folks to live their lives.  Ahh, that sounds nice.  However, it reality, the words around this verse is essentially to tell the captives taken away by Babylon to don’t expect a swift return home.  They have been dragged away, taken from their homes, their fields, and what they have become used to throughout their lives.  Now, they are being instructed to build new homes in a new land and plan to stay.  Get used to being in exile.  In truth, it was 70 years later that they were finally allowed to return to Israel. For some that might not seem like a long time, but it is almost four generations of descendants.  That is a long time!  We have waited close to 2000 years for the return of the Lord.  I talked with the folks in Sunday School, and everyone there did not believe that Jesus Christ will return in their lifetimes.  Albeit, most of the folks were pretty old, but even for those who weren’t, and I would like to count myself among that group, I do not know.  I know that the Lord our God knows, but we are all called to live our lives, but always be prepared for the Coming of Christ.  It might not be today, this week, month, year, decade, or even this century, but we know the Great and Wonderful Day of the Lord is coming.  Let us live now in the hope of truly living when Jesus Christ comes to claim us.  Peace and Blessings.

In the Love of Jesus Christ, Pastor Bob – church

pastorbobtitus@gmail.com, (412) 520-5407

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