You Will Find Me

When Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, the people of Israel were carried out from Jerusalem to Babylon into exile. Although Nebuchadnezzar was prideful and arrogant, he was made useful by God. The Lord allowed Nebuchadnezzar to be elevated to great power and was successful in everything he did. Babylon was also a great and magnificent city, built up by the mighty hand of Nebuchadnezzar, but his success was not his own. Nebuchadnezzar was certainly not a God-fearing man; he loved only himself and saw his strength and success as his own. There were a few occasions Nebuchadnezzar recognized God and His authority, but Nebuchadnezzar did not go down in history as a "Man of God". God wielded Nebuchadnezzar like a sword and used him as a tool for discipline to draw His children back to himself. When the Lord had finished wielding Nebuchadnezzar, God humbled the man and he suffered seven years of insanity before recognizing God as his authority and the source of his success.

God spoke through prophets in those days, and the Lord spoke through Jeremiah. Israel had become disobedient and wayward. The Lord revealed His plan through Jeremiah. God took the next seventy years to draw His people back to himself. When the Lord was through correcting, strengthening and purifying His children, He fulfilled His promise. Jeremiah actually prophesied about the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, beginning in chapter 30. We know the Messiah was the ultimate fulfillment of His promise. It is amazing to me how God blessed, multiplied and in many ways, tenderly cared for His children during this time of refinement and purification. What a mighty God we serve!

I wanted to paint this picture for you. As Israel had been taken into exile, the Lord spoke through Jeremiah and said: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place." The Lord then said this: "For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:10-11 NIV). Although Nebuchadnezzar was not a "Man of God", the Lord wielded him for His glory and to draw His children back to himself. The Lord can likewise use a virus, the stock market, the leaders and ruling authorities to refine us, purify us and to draw us back to himself.

During this time of uncertainty and fear over the COVID-19 virus, it is so easy to turn our eyes away from Jesus and start looking around at all the chaos in the world. We've gotten so caught up in this virus: no eggs, cleaning supplies or toilet paper, so many empty shelves and bad attitudes, the collapsing stock market, being stuck in the house and all the closed churches. As I read the "Verse of the Day" from the Bible app today, I was reminded that the key to understanding the plans God has for us is found in this verse: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). As seen in the following verse 14, His promise to us is this: "I will be found by you and will bring you back from captivity." 

The Lord spoke to my spirit when I read this passage, and I believe the Lord is telling us all: "Seek me, and you will find me. Seek me with all your heart, and I will declare my promises over you and I will deliver you from this captivity." In so many ways, we have become enslaved to money and stuff. Our hope has been placed in the government and our faith has found security in the stock market. I hear the Lord speak over the earth: "No more! Justice is mine! I will bring the government to its knees and the rulers of the earth will be seen as fools in my presence. I will allow the markets to crumble and famine will stretch over the land. My power will be made known on the earth and all the nations will confess that I am God. They will seek me, and I will drawn near to them. I will stretch out my hand and demonstrate my compassion for the humble and the meek. My love will sing over them and overflow like streams of water. I will bring healing to their land and will restore order and peace for those who find me. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

All the world is suffering now. We ignore the blood cry of the innocent, but delight in what seems wise to men. We argue over words and waste away in meaningless chatter. The wisdom of men seems right to us, but we ignore the wisdom that comes through the Holy Spirit. We are held captive by our politics and our god is our money. We have been brought into exile and no longer recognize the blessings of the Lord. We have become wayward and disobedient children. We have focused on our health and our wealth, and we have turned our eyes away from the Master.

Praise be to God! He is our good Father! Our God wields the nations for His glory. The governing authorities are in His hand. The Lord will demonstrate His mighty power, and the earth will cry out: "Holy. Holy, Holy is our Lord, God Almighty! Praise Jesus, our Master and Savior! He is the King of kings over all!"

All principalities and governing authorities are at His mercy and the nations cry out for His compassion. I've seen His tender mercy, and His compassion is without end. A spiritual tide is rising up, and a new generation is ready to give birth to life in the Holy Spirit! Justice is His! All power is His! All glory is His! The blood of the innocent cry out: "Seek the Lord, seek Him with all your heart!" When we seek Him, we will find Him and He will free us from captivity and declare His promises over us. This is the only way.

If you read through Jeremiah, you will see that there were false prophets among the people who were stirring up a rebellion against God. I see many false prophets rising up among us, but justice is His. Will you follow after these false prophets who stir up rebellion against the Lord, or will you hold tightly to the promises the Lord has given you? The key is this: "Seek the Lord with all your heart!" I urge you during this time of isolation and uncertainty fall on your knees and seek the Lord with all your heart. You will find Him! His word declares it so. He will declare His promises over you. Amen.