Slideshow image

Invest in the Future

   “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.” -Jeremiah 32:15 

   This is a curious passage of scripture tucked away among Jeremiah’s prophecies. Jeremiah had been placed in prison because he continued to prophecy God’s word which was directed toward king Zedekiah of Judah. The prophesy predicted Judah to be taken by Babylon and Zedekiah to stand before their king and then to be executed. This obviously didn’t sit too well with him, and he placed Jeremiah in prison to hopefully muzzle the negative message. We have a habit of doing the same thing today. Avoidance can seem good at the time, but avoidance will never remove the truth of God’s word, it’s timing and our part in it.

   While in prison Jeremiah received a word from the Lord that a cousin would visit him and ask him to redeem or purchase his property in the country of Benjamin and God instructed him to buy it. A short time passed, and his cousin Hanameel came to him as God said asking him to buy his field. Jeremiah being a kinsmen redeemer obligated him, if able, to buy the field. Jeremiah agreed and completed all the legal documentation and paid him what appears to be a high price for it. Seventeen shekels of silver for a field during a siege from Babylon, not knowing if you would ever make use of the field or even possess it before the year of Jubilee when it reverted to the original family seemed ridiculous.

   That, I believe, is the hidden meaning behind the purchase. To the world salvation seems ridiculous and why would someone want to give themselves to God when we can’t see the benefit and don’t have evidence Heaven is real. Jeremiah seemed, from a worldly view, to be foolish. The world views us Christians as foolish to invest in Heaven. The difference between Jeremiah and his cousin Hanameel is like that of the lost and saved today. That difference is faith. Hanameel believed there was no hope in the field and Jeremiah held to God’s word it was worth the investment. Non-Christians see a life surrendered to Jesus as a waste while we see it as the only way to life eternal.

   So, hold to your faith and hope in a doubting world. Just as Jeremiah said, “one day this land will be inhabited again,” trust Jesus is coming back for His bride.