He Knows Our Plans: Part Four

Date: March 17, 2008

Comprehensive, good plans bring optimism. That is what the final line is for us in Jer. 29:11, “To give you a hope and a future.” God’s word to you and me through Jeremiah is that you and I have REASON to be hopeful. We have reason to be hope-filled. The evil one casts doubt and confusion by suggesting, “What is the use. God’s plans always have so much difficulty in them. Live a mediocre life. It will be so much easier and more pleasant.” How tragic when we believe those lies. The Christian life can be difficult, confusing, but never without a good purpose. Our optimism is not shrouded in lies, it is caked with the goodness of God.

What is the opposite of despair? Hope. Hope is intrinsically optimistic. You and I are to have an optimistic hope in this life. Ouch! No matter what happens, I am also to have great hope I n the life beyond this life. Why/ Because the second we step foot into eternity, it will all make sense. It will all come into focus. Think what will happen to our perspective the first 5 minutes of heaven. Imagine what will happen to our perspective the first day, and the first 10000 years. Brothers an sisters, if we could see God’s plan for shalom in history and beyond, we would find ourselves like Peter even rejoicing in the trials of this life (I Peter 4:12-13).

You might be in deep trouble right now. Life may seem to be falling apart. Bt take heart Imbibe this promise’s optimism. You have a “future and a hope.”

Seeing that the Lords plans for us are comprehensive, good, and optimistic, we will naturally ask if there are any qualifications we must meet. The answer is that while the truth of these promises apply to all of Gods people, there is a condition necessary to consciously experience its reality. Biblical scholars agree that the condition is given in the immediately following context of Jeremiah 29:12-3. It is to seek Him with all our hearts. “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” There must be a GOD focused obsession in our lives if we are to fully experience the benefit of his promise.

David put this obsession into classic wording in Psalm 42, “As the deer pants And again in Psalm 63: “Oh God,... To such seeking God gives full experience of his promise. Half hearted seeking will not bring it. Infrequent seeking is inadequate. The reality of Jeremiah 29:11 is given to wholehearted seekers. I know I am not a wholehearted seeker. At times I think I am, but I am hoping Gods grace will catapult me further up the mountain of experiencing His grace in my life.

But to those who live with this passion, the promise of God is alive with:
-Comprehensiveness- “For I know the plans I have for you.”
-Goodness-“Plans of welfare and not for destruction.”
-Optimism-“To give you a future and a hope.”