Living In The Past

“In that day,” says the Lord, “when people are taking an oath, they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ Then they will live in their own land.” [Jeremiah 23.7-8]

Are we living in the past? How 'current' is our God? Is there anything that the world recognizes God for in contemporary times? Is there anything 'believers' recognize God for in contemporary times? Or, once again, are we living in the past?

All the world (as it was known at the time) pretty much knew of Israel's history. The story of Israel's exodus from Egypt was no small thing. There were undeniable miracles attested to God's power throughout the years of this event. Israel not only remembered this history, but they reminded everyone else of it as well.

However, as time progressed, Israel's exodus from Egypt became increasingly more distant as historical time lines go. Israel's relationship with God grew stagnant - a thing of the past.

What it appears the Lord desired of Israel, as prophesied through Jeremiah, was that their relationship with Him be contemporary - that a new event be the 'flagship' of their relationship with God. God desires to be known as a contemporary God - interactive in the current affairs of His people - not just an historical character.

Does the world today recognize our God as contemporary?

Father, You are the God of yesterday, today, and forever. Forgive me for living only in the past in my relationship with You. Help me to recognize and anticipate Your power at work in contemporary times!