Taking Time To Reflect And Remember God’s Faithfulness

Well a new year is coming, and once again we will watch another year leave as time ushers in a new one. Some people will look back with regret and wonder how last year could have been different, others will live regretting those things that happened and wish that they could go back and rewrite history, and then there are the few that will take on the New Year with boldness and confidence. If we are not careful we can allow those feelings of regret to hinder us from entering the New Year with the hope that we otherwise might have had. With all of that in mind, I wondered how we could learn from the past, while we look into the future, all the while living in the present, and that is why our studies took us to the book of Lamentations where we were introduced to a prophet named Jeremiah.
The Hebrew title of the book is the first word of the text “ekah,” which translated, “How” The title in the English Bible comes from the Latin Vulgate “lamentia” which means “funeral speeches.” The reason is because the book consists of five laments that the “weeping prophet” Jeremiah wrote after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 587-586 B.C. During his forty years of ministry, he sought to persuade the leaders of Judah to turn back to God and avoid national judgment, but they persisted in breaking God’s covenant. To Jeremiah it looked as if forty years of faithful ministry were wasted, for the people refused to acknowledge his warnings. They had violated the terms for the covenant, knowing full well what the consequences would be. Jeremiah had warned them that if they persisted in rebelling, God would send the Babylonians. That God would permit the Gentiles, especially the Babylonians, to enter and destroy the temple of the Jews was inconceivable. But, notice the repetition of the word Lord in Chapter 1.
1:12-14 The Lord afflicted Jerusalem.
1:14b The Lord delivered Jerusalem into enemy hands.
1:15 The Lord trampled the people under the feet of the enemy.
1:17 The Lord commanded the enemy to attack.
1:18 The Lord is righteous.

The basic theme of the book is the weeping over the destruction of Jerusalem, and the judgment God sent because His people had rebelled against Him and rejected His warnings. This terrible scene could have been avoided, if they would have only listened to the words of God’s prophet. All of this brings us to the heart of the journal. This is the only bright light of hope that there is. It’s as if the sky is covered with heavy clouds except for one ray of sunshine that is breaking through. Life is at the bottom. Life could not get any worse for the Jews living in 587 B.C. It is here that Jeremiah expresses his own sorrow at the destruction of the Holy City and the temple.

Perhaps that is exactly how you have felt this past year- it was supposed to be a year filled with blessings and prosperity, but it turned out to be a year filled with disappointments. The marriage is over, the tumor is growing, the business is going bankrupt, the children have run away from home and they aren’t coming back; and now you are wondering if there is any hope, if you have any strength left to face the next challenge, if you have any hope left to give.

It was in Jeremiah’s darkest hours, when he says in verse 21 “this I call to mind.” Often the word “this” is an arrow that points back to something that the writer has just finished talking about but this time it is pointing forward. These are these things that Jeremiah was going to call to mind.
Vs. 22 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed”
Vs.22 “His compassions fail not”
Vs.23 “Great is Thy faithfulness”

They all related to God’s faithfulness. As Jeremiah thought about God’s faithfulness, he deliberately refocused his attention as he remembered all the times in his life where he had seen the faithfulness of God and that brought him hope. As the New Year quickly approaches let’s take time to refocus our attention and remember the times when we have witness the faithfulness of God. When we do this we will have the boldness and courage to face the unknown and will be given a new sense of hope.

The other night I told my daughter, the words that every child desires to hear, “Daddy loves you so much.” With that she rolled over and fell asleep. As I was leaving her room a thought came to mind, how much more does God love His children? For, years we have been singing “Jesus loves me this I know” but have you ever really thought about that Biblical truth. John tells us that “For God, so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

1)The Emphasis’ Of God’s Love- The fact that God so loves is a wonderful thought, but the writer is highlighting the word “so.” God does not just love you, He loves you so much. What a difference that one little word makes. Think about this, God loves you “so” much.

2)The Endurance Of God’s Love- God’s love never ends. There is not a sin that will prevent God from loving you. The writer of Roman tells us, “that while we were yet sinners Christ died for you.” In fact the Apostle Paul testified that he was the worst of all sinners and yet he would write about the love of God.

3)The Example Of God’s Love- God loved you so much that He gave. God wants to give you the gift of salvation. There is nothing greater that God can give you than the gift of salvation. The example was that He gave us His only begotten Son.

4)The Evidence Of God’s Love- God loves you so much, that He gave you His only begotten or only unique Son. God paid dearly with the life of His Son. It was the highest price He could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment as He paid the price for our sins. And then He offered us the life that He bought for us-eternal life. The question then is how do we receive the gift of eternal life?

A-Admit that you are a sinner- “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” You must admit that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior.

B-Believe that Jesus Christ paid the price for your sin. He went to the cross to die to for you. But, three days later He arose from the grave and is coming back one day for His dear children.

C-Call on the name of Jesus Christ and you will be saved.