“Then [my enemies] said, Come and let us devise schemes against Jeremiah; for the law [of Moses] shall not perish from the priest [as this false prophet Jeremiah predicts], nor will counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us smite him with the tongue [making a charge against him to the king], and let us not pay any attention to his words.”

It started in the garden and made its way out. Deceitfulness. Eve chose to believe a lie and sin entered the world. One brother hated the other for no good reason—and murder resulted. A man was swayed by his wife and a division occurred that, outside of God—is inescapable. A nation was divided—and its split is evident still…

These words could be found in any “Tell-All” novel on many bookshelves in America today.

But they’re not from some book…

They come straight from the pages of God’s Word—the Bible.

The Bible recounts many accounts of deceptions, murders, and greed. And, much to our consternation, we are, and will continue to feel their impacts until Jesus either returns for us—or we are taken Home to be with Him. This is a fact I state plainly—knowing it is infallible. How? Jesus himself said so. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” –Matthew 24:7;9-12. And, John 16:33 which assures us of these troubles, listen: … “In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

From the garden to Jeremiah, to Jesus, straight on towards today; a line can be found that links mans rejection of Truth and of those who deliver it—to the fearsome consequences that inevitably follow…

It appears that King Solomon hit the proverbial nail on the head when he wrote: “That which has been is that which will be [again], And that which has been done is that which will be done again. So there is nothing new under the sun” –Ecclesiastes 1:9.

Solomon was, certainly, referring to man (his sinful condition and predilections) and the cyclical sameness he experiences outside of a relationship with God. Nothing of eternal value can be accomplished outside of a life committed to Christ…

What we set before us as our “god” will have rule over us…

We see evidence of this in the beginning of Chapter 18. We witness God instructing Jeremiah to go to the potter’s shop. Once there, and after observing the potter folding in a clay jar he’d been forming due to its defect, God gives Jeremiah a Word. He instructs him to warn all of Judah and Jerusalem. And Jeremiah faithfully ministers the Word God had given him. “‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I am shaping a disaster and working out a plan against you. Turn back, each of you from his evil way; correct your habits and change your actions for the better.”’ –Jeremiah 18:11

Did they follow the Word Jeremiah spoke? No…

Why? Because they had their own agenda—their own plan, their way of doing things. And, if Jeremiah wouldn’t get on board with ‘their way’ they’d just have to get rid of him and put someone else in place that would…

Sound familiar? It should. Not only do we hear this concerning our own leaders, those in positions of influence and power, but we also hear it loud and clear in Scripture. And no, not just from those surrounding our friend Jeremiah. This ultimatum came from the high priest and the Sanhedrin concerning Jesus. “The chief priests and the elders…plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, ‘Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar” –Matthew 26:3-4.

Stealth: a secret, quiet, and clever way of moving or behaving; done or happening in a secret or quiet way that does not attract attention.

They were all sneaky! All hypocrites! Each of those in positions of power, of authority, wanted nothing to do with hearing the Truth Jesus spoke either. Jeremiah was in good company then!

John Chrysostom comments on these Pharisees, saying that “they never were afraid of the judgment of God but only the judgment of people”

Both groups, those that revolted against Jeremiah, as well as those who falsely accused—flat out lied about Jesus, were motivated by sin, by greed, pride, position, profit, and power.  More precisely, the loss of it. Rather than open themselves up to the Truth, to Jesus, they chose to cling—wrap themselves up in, their traditions—in the law, in rites, rituals, and rigidity of heart. They preferred lies, hardheartedness, and manipulation over humility, Truth, and God. “And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” –Luke 6:39

Sounds like the world we live in doesn’t it? “Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD –Jeremiah 9:6.

Nothing new…

Yet none of this, not one bit it, has caught God by surprise. Not the rebellion of  those in Judah and Jerusalem, not the Pharisees, not your rebellion, nor mine. All of it was clear to Him as He stood over the void and spoke all things into existence. From the garden, to Jeremiah, to the Pharisees, to each of us today—every deed ever committed by every man ever created was made plain to God as He was knitting them together in their mother’s wombs. Not one word, not a thought, nor an action, has ever escaped the eye and ear of God. What men have meant for evil God has and will always, use for good.

The Creator’s providence, John Calvin says, will ensure that events turn out exactly as He has planned…

Not even Jesus escaped the scathing effects sin has on the world. Yet, God knew exactly what He was doing—allowing to happen, when He sent Jesus to the Cross. God used what evil men meant for harm, what the devil intended to end Jesus, for good. He used it as a pathway, a bridge, that you and I might cross over to be eternally re-membered with Him.

He was about to end sins power once, and for all, through the perfect sacrifice of His Son Jesus…

Just as surely as the enemy was present in the crowd spoken about in our Scripture verse, those baying after Jeremiah’s blood, we know too, he was at the front of the line the day Jesus went to the Cross. Listen to his arrogant, proud, hate-filled hissing among the religious leaders of the day: “What can we do?” they asked. “This man is doing many miraculous signs. If we let Him keep on doing this, everyone will believe in Him. Then the Romans will come. They will take away our temple and our nation” John 11:47-48.

We’re witnessing a repeat. The Garden to Jeremiah to Jesus…

Satan was indeed holding Caiaphas’s hand, whispering into Ananias’s ear, goading, and pricking those in the crowd to scream, “crucify Him, crucify Him!

And know this. If you are a Christian, the world will not stand for you and the Truth you’ll speak either. Expect it. It will reject you…

But take heart! Stand firm!

And listen to what God says across the ages—to you, to every person who ever has, or ever will, follow Him. To those like Jeremiah, who chose Him, those like yourself who love and obey Him. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. “For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. “Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.…” –Isaiah 42:2-4.

There will always, so long as it is today, be those who hate the Truth and the ones sent to deliver it. Take heart my friend, Jesus has overcome this world! There may be nothing new under the sun, but there will soon be a new heaven and a new earth. And if you are His then it will be yours!

And Truth will reign for all eternity…

If you don’t know Jesus and you’re here hoping to find the Truth, won’t you ask Jesus to show Himself to you? … He says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” –John 14:6.

You have a choice, we all do. Don’t be a repeat. Choose Truth…