The Rest of the Story

October 27 Jeremiah 51-53

Object Lessons That Demand Obedience

The Rest of the Story…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

His name was Paul Aurandt, and he was born in Oklahoma the son of a policeman. His teacher was impressed with his voice and helped him get a job at a local radio station and before long he was reading commercials, and then, the news.

Have you ever heard of him? Probably, not. However, the world knew him by his radio name, Paul Harvey. “And now you know the rest of the story”. Those were the famous words that made him a legend.

Paul Harvey eventually signed a ten-year contract at the age of 82 for one hundred million dollars. His fan base turned in regularly because of his unique delivery style and communication techniques. He had a way of using a staccato cadence that would hold the listeners’ attention and he used an extended pause for effect. His stories were like magical mysteries and at the end, the reader would “JUST GET IT”.

We are nearing the end of the book of Jeremiah and it is for us to stop and look back and reflect on “the bigger picture” so that we too can “JUST GET IT”.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. (Jeremiah 29:11)

This is one of the most famous verses in the book of Jeremiah. Many people will tell you that it is “their life verse”. It is like a gem of a promise that they have pulled out of the Bible and hold near their heart. I have always loved this verse as well.

Has the meaning of this verse changed in any way now that you have read the entire book of Jeremiah?

This verse is like a clip of Hallmark on a Friday night. You feel tired and weary and put your pj’s on, get a cup of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket and breathe a sigh of deep relief because “God has plans for you” and “they are not to harm you”.

What are HIS plans versus my plans and what kind of hope and future is he talking about?

Let’s look at the rest of the verse, “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will see me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

A couple of days ago we looked at God’s plan for His Remnant who would be called by HIS name. There were three steps He took to heal his people and return them to HIM.

PURGE, PURIFY, & PLEDGE.

PURGE: Rotten Meat only breads bacteria which spreads like a wildfire. The stench is unbearable and the meat is unusable. God intentionally led his people into captivity and sent judgment so that He could “bring them back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

PURIFY: The wicked were judged and killed. The cancer was PURGED, and now He would give them time to be under the OPPRESSION of the IDOLS who they thought had the power to deliver them so that they could find out how errant they had been.

PLEDGE: His underlying goal was for HIS people to keep their PLEDGE to HIM! They were to seek HIM first and offer their sacrifices of praise to HIM, not idols.

He was to be “THEIR GOD” and they were to be “HIS PEOPLE”.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will see me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.

So, HIS plans for His people to give them a FUTURE and a HOPE was HIM!

He was the TREASURE that He wanted them to seek and if they sought HIM then they would find HIM. When they found HIM they would truly find PURPOSE.

How does this apply to us in the context of the full meaning intended here in the book of Jeremiah?

Isaiah was asked by God to walk naked through the streets and proclaim a message of repentance to the people. Jeremiah was asked to wear a “smelly loin cloth” and preach a message of upcoming judgment. He was then thrown into a muddy cistern and left to die.

Neither of them had an easy life or accomplished their own personal “vision of life”.

Both wanted to quit their jobs as prophets!

No one wants to be the bearer of bad news and the object of hatred from rebellious people. Yet, they were the messengers sent BY God accomplishing the work OF God, THROUGH them.

Let that thought simmer on the burner a bit and then ponder, “What is God’s plan for me to give me hope and a future”.

Does that verse look a little different to you now?

The book of Jeremiah gives the people a glimpse of the hope and future to come. It was through the perfect sacrifice, of Jesus Christ who would come through the preserved lineage of David.

“AND NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY”!