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Morning Thoughts |
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Jeremiah 12:5, "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied
thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of
peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do
in the swelling of Jordan?"
This
morning, the world sometimes gets fuzzy-headed notions that regrettably
creep into the church. Since all of us still share in being a part of
fallen creation, none of us are immune to wrong thinking in this world.
Have you ever heard someone say, "If things get rough, I'll hang tough"
or "Some might fall, but I'll keep going" during an easy time? Have all
of us ever uttered similar sentiments? All too often, these statements
are made with the following two circumstances: 1. they are made when
things are going well, 2. they are made even though little problems are
not handled very honorably. There is something in the pride of man that
likes to think that he will shine above and beyond when no one else
will, and though none of us knows for sure how we will react to some
mammoth problem or towering adversity, we can glean some Biblical
insight about ourselves and those possible future situations.
Jeremiah had perhaps one of the hardest "preaching assignments" known to
man. He prophesied in Judah before and after the destruction of
Jerusalem at the hands of foreign Babylon. He dealt with some of the
most stiff-necked mentalities that a man has ever had to face in
ministering God's word. Through it all, the Lord blessed him in spite
of some horrible outward circumstances. Jeremiah was imprisoned,
impoverished, despitefully used, and even double-crossed at times.
Though Jeremiah had moments of despondency and sorrow, he still
faithfully served the Lord in spite of the hardships. In our study
verse, Jeremiah draws our minds to a very important principle of life
that he had, no doubt, learned not just intellectually but also
experientially.
If
someone has never been in a war, there is an old saying from war
veterans that states, "You never know for sure how you will react when
that first bullet flies over your head." As one who has never engaged
in a bloody conflict of that sort, I must confess that I cannot answer
with absolute certainty what I would do exactly in such a situation.
However, our Lord tells us faithfully in His word through verses like
the one before us that how we handle certain situations is a good litmus
test on how we will handle other situations. Jeremiah draws the
people's mind to two natural analogies. The first analogy deals with
different phases of a battle, while the other analogy deals with a
contrast between war and peace. In a nutshell, how we handle peace will
be the manner in which we handle war. In the way we handle one phase of
the battle, we can have some assurance of handling the other phase of
the battle the same way. If honorably in one, then honorably in the
other. If dishonorably in one, then dishonorably in the other.
Let
us begin with the second analogy and move into the first. Jeremiah says
that if we get weary in the land of peace where trust is found how can
we expect to make it in the swelling of Jordan (wartime or time of
trouble)? That makes sense logically, yet so often we fail to look at
things in that way. For example, if someone cannot handle an assignment
while in a vacuum and no outside hindrances, how could they hope to
handle it when things are crowding in and the pressure mounts? One of
the things that good trainers attempt to do is accurately stage and
mimic the circumstances of a contest or war during practice. The
mindset is simply this, "If you can handle it the way we throw it out at
you, then you should be able to handle it when you are actually going
through it." So, a sergeant will stage a battle scene in training that
has gunfire, explosions, etc. so that the troops will not experience
those things for the first time in the real life battle.
Jeremiah's point is that people cannot hope to survive a war or time of
trouble when they get weak and weary during a time of stillness and
peace. I fear that in this great nation in which we live our people
generally do not know how to survive a time of trouble for the simple
fact that they get weary during these times of peace and prosperity.
The great generation in this land that will soon leave us completely
knew what it was like to survive a Great Depression and a World War.
They knew what it was like to meet national and international adversity
head-on, and they still conducted themselves honorably - in a general
sense. No they were not perfect, but they handled that crisis in a
generally honorable fashion. Contrast that with the last 50 or so
years. The succeeding generations have handled some wars rather
haphazardly, and the personal lives and health of the nation have also
followed suit. What if another Great Depression or World War broke
out? How would the nation, individuals, churches, families, etc.
respond? If in time of peace we have been wearied, how can one hope
that we would not just falter and fail completely during a time of
trouble?
Moving into the first analogy, consider a phase of battle. Jeremiah
says that if one cannot stand up with the footmen, then there is no real
hope that he could survive the cavalry. Consider the tactics of war,
particularly from that time period. After the opposing armies had
engaged somewhat, the purpose of the cavalry was to exploit and break
through any of the holes that the footmen had made. So, what was the
goal of the army before the cavalry rode down upon them? The hope was
that they would have little to no holes for opposing forces' horses to
ride through. If the holes were small to non-existent, the cavalry’s
success would be greatly diminished. If the footmen had been effective
enough, the cavalry could break through. If the footmen had been more
than successful, the cavalry would absolutely cut whatever lines of men
that were left to splinters
Jeremiah's point is not that the cavalry has enough holes to break
through. Jeremiah's point is that the people have not stood up to the
infantry at all, and therefore, the cavalry horses would cut what is
left all to pieces. When Satan comes calling in our lives, he does not
start with the "big things" (horses). He starts with the "little
things" (footmen). By doing so, the aim is to exploit our defenses
sufficiently for the big things to pass through. How is it today?
Today - as we previously stated - we have had times of rest, peace, etc.
like no other. Times have not been nearly as tough as they have been in
days gone by, yet how have we stood up to the ploys of Satan? Sadly,
our lines look like we have been through a ravaging war rather than a
time of extra-special peace.
I
have no doubt from Scripture that things are going to continue to get
worse. Paul assured Timothy of that in II Timothy 3. However, no
matter how badly things generally get, we can still stand honorably
during the times of trouble. Nationally, we may crumble and fall.
Churches may - regrettably - close their doors for complete
unfaithfulness to the Master. However, let us never delude ourselves
into thinking we will do better than others have if we have ample and
sufficient evidence that we will not. As I personally ponder my daily
warfare and walk of discipleship, I see littered about many failures
with the footmen. I see much weariness in the land of peace. If the
pattern does not change, can I reasonably hope that my decorum will be
better and more honorable with the horsemen or a swelling tide? No I
cannot.
Brethren, there is no way that I would compare myself to Jeremiah (and I
frankly shudder when men compare themselves and this generation with
Jeremiah and that generation). However, the principle that Jeremiah
espouses here is not only universal, but it is timeless as well. If we
have been faithful in little, we can hope that we will be faithful in
much. However, the converse is also true. Let us who know the truth
rearm ourselves for the fight. Let us handle the small things
honorably. Let us meet the many little ploys of Satan in full, unbroken
fashion. During times of peace and practice, may we work up buckets of
sweat to prevent gallons of blood being spilled in battle. One of the
ways that I am very much unlike Jeremiah is I have been given no vision
or prophecy of the future in the land I live. Jeremiah was plainly told
by God what would happen, and he just as plainly declared that word to
the people. I do not know the future. It feels and has the sense that
things will get worse and much worse. However, no matter what happens,
may we as individuals, families, and churches stand united against the
forces of darkness. May we use these times of peace to stand
honorably. Then, no matter what comes may our honour in these times
yield sufficient hope that we will stand equally solid in times of
impending trouble.
In
Hope,
Bro
Philip |