Stubborn or Surrender

Jeremiah 21:8 "Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death."

When Jeremiah spoke these words, God was telling Israel to surrender to the Babylonians. The reason was that His people had gone into idolatry and had forsaken God, so now God was forsaking them. He was sending them to Babylon as discipline - a discipline that worked. Israel never again served foreign gods like they had prior.

It raises an interesting thought for Christians today. Sometimes we find ourselves serving foreign gods - gods of money or fame or pleasure or many other things that turn our focus away from serving the One True God. So sometimes God brings discipline into our lives. What is our reaction to that discipline? Do we buck up against it, fighting God tooth and nail to avoid repenting or dealing with the sin in our lives?

I think we can learn from Jeremiah's word. The way of surrender to God's discipline is the way of life. It is the way of letting God burn the crud out of you and bringing His life into you afresh. It hurts for a while, but it's worth it.

Pastor Tom