As we read the letter that Jeremiah sent to the exiles in Babylon we can apply its directives to ourselves. Peter tells us that we are aliens and strangers in the world (1 Peter 1:1; 2:11-12), and in saying so he is using the imagery of exile. Peter is saying that Christians are like exiles in a foreign land. We are here for a limited time, and we should live in anticipation of God’s future redemption when we will be citizens of the New Jerusalem in a “new heavens and a new earth” (Revelation 21-22). It is important, while we are here, to remember that this is not ‘it’. This life in this age is temporary and all our desires are not going to be satisfied here. That is not the plan. God wants to prosper us for his purpose in this life, but ultimate fulfilment will only take place in the next life. Jeremiah encourages us to settle down, to participate in the life of the country we live in and to contribute to the peace and prosperity of that country. We are not meant to isolate ourselves from normal life. God wants us to live distinctly, not separately. We must live distinctly holy lives as we integrate into our communities. We live in the world, but we must not be enslaved to the principles of this world. We are not to serve the same godless agendas and aspirations as people in the world. We are servants of God, and our lives are to be governed by the priorities and agendas of heaven.
Reflect on your life in the light of these things.
Read Jeremiah 29
