Good Plans

This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” [Jeremiah 29.10-14]

There is a really nice promise in this passage of scripture from Jeremiah.

However, most of the times I have heard this promised quoted it had been largely in neglect of the context of the story. 

The context of the story in which God's good plans are fulfilled, was seventy years of captivity that would precede God's good plans for Israel. Seventy years of punishment - banished form the Promised Land - would have to be marked off and fulfilled in order to realize God's good "future" plans.

Bummer.

But real.

We would do well to consider our present circumstances...

Are our present circumstances a punishment?

How does Jesus' role affect our circumstances?

How does faith affect our circumstances?

One thing that gives me great hope is that, regardless of our answers to the questions above, we can be assured that God has plans for good and not for disaster. It is His nature just like His justice is His nature. Justice cannot be sidestepped, but we can remain sure that God has good plans for us.

Now, about that justice... It seems to me that no matter what one believes about Jesus and His work on our behalf, that repentance is in order. Faith is no license to sin and faith frankly does not work in sin. So, every benefit we might reap from the Cross of Christ is of no avail if we are unrepentant because true faith and un-repentance (pride) cannot coexist.

So, once again, I see the need for repentance. Oh I want God's good plans for me to be realized in my life, but repentance is necessary.

Repentance is always necessary because our righteousness is as filthy rags before God.

But we are the righteousness of God in Christ.

But we are not in Christ unless we are repentant.

Father, I see again today the need for me to be and remain repentant - not condemned, just humble and contrite before You. Thank You.