Sometimes God likes to change things up (actually, I find its more than sometimes, its often). I came across, by divine accident a passage of scripture that didn’t make any sense to me. Ordinarily I have the opposite problem, I’ll find scripture that leaps out at me and deep in my spirit I receive what’s being given to me, while my brain has to run to catch up.
“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23-24
The context of this scripture is that the prophet Jeremiah in distress has been speaking to the Lord about all the false prophets who have been lying to the people, encouraging the people to sin and to walk in ways that were displeasing to God. The Lord points out in verses 16 through 22 of chapter twenty-three, that those false didn’t know HIm; they were lying to the people.
I asked Holy Spirit to help me understand what He was trying to say to me. I saw a pipe running through the earth, the pipe is metal and corroded, and the ground is dry, very light in color. About 6 to 8 inches above the pipe are little, dry shriveled seeds. As I watch I can see pieces of the metal pipe dissolve away, and the water begins to filter out into the earth, reaching the seeds, causing them to sprout.
I feel like, in this passage I am being exhorted that lies can not hold God back. Not just the lies of the enemy, but also the lies of well-intentioned self-righteous religion, that, in the context of Jeremiah’s day said, “God doesn’t see what you’re doing, so its ok.”Unfortunately, culturally speaking, our today is not so different.
Matthew Henry put it this way, “The power of God is the same on earth among its inhabitants that it is in heaven among its armies. With us nearness and distance make a great difference both in our observations and in our operations, but it is not so with God; to him darkness and light, at hand and afar off, are both alike.”
Let me be very clear here. It would be very easy to read this passage in the darkness of judgment and condemnation. But I have challenged myself to read it in the light of His grace. Father God sees me and loves me, (and you). There is nothing that is hidden from Him. It is His kindness that leads to repentance (which means to change the way you think). He is a good Daddy, who loves you so much and wants freedom for you in relationship with Him.
I feel like what I saw was what the Holy Spirit is doing. He’s causing the pipe of lies that have held HIm back from His people to burst open and He’s flooding the ground. With this flood comes wonderful encounter and great breakthrough. Also with this flood is the opportunity to let His love, grace and mercy flow out over the secret areas of our lives, those things we’ve kept hidden even from our own hearts. I am so thankful that He is a Daddy who loves us too much to let us stay in a place that keeps us from His plan for us.
I also feel like this is a reminder to keep our heavenly perspective. We are citizens of heaven, just visiting the earth as ambassadors of our home. We get the joy of bringing our home with us wherever we go, because we carry the Holy Spirit with us. And there is nothing He can’t and won’t do for us, His beloved children. I feel impressed to write that even if there is some secret that is keeping you hostage, that doesn’t change who you are to Him. He loves you, wants to transform you and is always for you. Because its never been about what you or I can do for Him. Its always been about what He has already done for us.
Keep Your Wonder 