Sunday, June 8, 2008
How do you want to be remembered when you’re gone? We don’t really like to think about that – especially when we’re young.
But as we get older, thoughts like that come up more and more. Some people put epitaphs on their tombstones to remind others
of who they were or what they believed or lived for.
What you are reading o’er my bones
I’ve often read on other tombs.
And others soon will read of thee
What you are reading now of me.
Most of the time the family of the deceased chooses what to put on a stone.
Here lies Ezekiel Aikle, Age 102 – The Good Die Young
Erected by her sorrowing brothers
In memory of Martha Clay.
Here lies one who lived for others;
Now she has peace. And so have they.
How do you want to be remembered? It is fairly certain that few if any of us here will be remembered by society as a whole. But
there will be people who remember us and remember our lives and remember what we lived for and how we lived – at least for a
while. What do you want them to remember?
In our series, “Life on the Wheel” in the book of Jeremiah today we see some sad things that the people of Judah who have
forsaken the true God and worshiped false gods are remembered for. But we also see some hope for a godly legacy laid out by
God Himself for those who trust Him and do what He says. There is a lot for us to learn today as we consider the truth “blessed
is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord.” As we open God’s Word, let’s prepare our hearts and ask for
help. PRAY
Jeremiah 17 starts out almost as if an epitaph is being written. But there is no humor here. There is nothing commendable and no
positive memory. Jeremiah 17:1,2. READ. The sin – that’s what is remembered – the sin of Judah is written with a pen of
iron. The writing instrument of Judah’s sin of forsaking the true God and following fake gods is a strong, unbendable tool. And
the point of that tool, what does the engraving is the point of a diamond – unbreakable, permanent. And what is their sin written
on? Two things – the tablet of their heart (their own personal sin) and on the horns of their altars (their societal and national sin).
What these people have done is recorded deeply and permanently both in their own hearts and for all the world to see. We’ll talk
about the heart in a few minutes, but as far as their sin being engraved by a diamond point on the horns of their altars – this is not
talking about the altar in the Jewish temple. This is talking about their altars to false gods – their holy places. Engraved on their
holy places is not found holiness, but sin. Sin for all the world to see – sin for them to see as they continue to bow down to fake,
powerless trinkets and idols.
Let’s again consider where we devote our worship – and we have seen clearly that we have the same tendency to forsake the true
God and look elsewhere for meaning and purpose and devote our time and energy to worship of things that are worthless and
powerless. On what could God engrave our sin? Is your sin engraved on your car or your stuff? On your house? Is it engraved
on your body? Could God engrave your sin on your bank account? How about your kids? As we continue this morning, we are
going to push ourselves to respond the way God wants us to and help one another live for the things of God. If you hold any of
those things we just mentioned or anything else in higher regard than the Lord your God, whether you admit it or not, what does
God see and what do the people around you see engraved on those things? Is it Jesus or is it sin?
Back to Jeremiah 17:2 – not only is the sin of Judah written with a pen of iron and a diamond point on their own hearts and their
places of false worship, but look at the legacy they left. All their children remember is their false worship and their sin. Think of
that – as our children look at what you and I live for, they SEE it, they remember it. What are your kids remembering that you
devote your life to? The children of Judah only remembered the altars to false gods and the wooden idols. We have seen how the
people God is trying to reach THINK and SAY that they are God’s people, but God tells them that the things their children will
remember and the things their children will worship tell them the truth about their beliefs. We can tell our kids how important
knowing Jesus is. We can talk to them about how they ought to read the Bible and go to youth group. But they actually learn
more by what we DO than what we say. What are your children learning from you? Many of us are frustrated in our spiritual
lives because we know what we ought to see happening but we don’t see it. Some of us have handled that frustration by just
living by a double standard. Some of us have given up. Some are still trying to get it right. Some are seeing growth. But just like
we pick up and mimic what we saw our parents do in areas, our kids will do the same. In this vital area of life – this area of life
that determines much of the rest of life – we MUST respond correctly. And it is not only for our children’s sake, but also for our
sake, too. God is not content to let us stay as we are. He is always seeking to make us like Jesus. Then why aren’t we like
Jesus? Listen carefully – it is not GOD’s fault that we are not like Jesus. We keep certain areas and parts of our lives away from
His control and influence. He wants each one of us totally – fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ – but we don’t allow Him full
access. Our children will pick up on those habits and reactions and responses.
How are you going to respond? Those who have younger children at home have the greatest opportunity. Give yourself to the
Lord Jesus Christ fully as much as you know how. Yield your life to Him and give Him full access and full control. I would be
happy to help you in that response if you aren’t sure what to do. Those who have older children or children grown and out of the
house still have opportunity, too. It is the same response that will have eternal impact – give yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ
fully, yield your life to Him, give Him full access and full control. No one is too old to learn and respond. And, by the way, this
applies to those who have NO children, too. What are your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers going to remember about
what your life was about? HOW are you going to respond?
There is so much good stuff in this chapter – and we are not going to be able to look at all of it today. Verses 3 and 4 have some
really good things to consider, but we are going to move on to verse 5. From verse 5 through verse 13 could be called “The
Psalms and Proverbs of Jeremiah.” Let’s look at these nuggets of truth. Jeremiah 17:5-8. READ. These four verses set up a
contrast. Verses 5 and 6 talk about people who do NOT trust in the Lord. Verses 7 and 8 talk about people who DO trust in the
Lord. Let’s compare. In verse 5 it says “cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength.” Compare that with
verse 7, which sounds lot like Proverbs 3:5. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.” Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and do not lean on your own understanding. Notice in these verses there is no reference to Judah or Israel. This is a universal
truth – blessed are those who trust in the Lord and cursed are those who trust in man. Where do you fall? What does it mean to
trust in man and to make flesh your strength? It is contrasted with trusting in the Lord, so I think we could make the point that it
has to do with where a person goes to find meaning and purpose and reality. Those who trust in man and in their own strength, it
says, are cursed. That word “cursed” means “to be made abhorrent” – God can’t stand a person in that situation. And remember
that God is perfect in His view of people and things and situations. But “blessed” is the person who trusts in the Lord. “Blessed”
means “to kneel” or basically to be honored. A person who trusts in the Lord is honored by God. A person who trusts in man is
someone the Lord can’t stand. That makes the choice of where we put our trust a little easier – do you want God to bless you, to
honor you or do you want Him to not be able to stomach you?
Verse 5 continues [cursed] is the man whose heart departs from the Lord, where verse 7 says [blessed] is the man whose hope IS
the Lord. Jesus said in Matthew and Luke “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” When our hope is in the Lord,
it is rightly placed and God promises His blessings. When our heart departs from the Lord, it makes God sick to His stomach.
BECAUSE that is NOT how we were meant to live. He has so much more for us than what we can come up with without Him.
And, by the way, look at what God says about our hearts in verses 9 and 10. Jeremiah 17:9,10. READ. This refers back to
verse 5 – cursed is the man who trusts in man…whose heart departs from the Lord. The heart is not a thing to be trusted,
according to God. When you heart things like “trust your heart to guide you” or stuff like that, reject it. GOD says that the heart
is deceitful (lying, not trustworthy) above ALL things and desperately wicked or incurably sick. There is nothing more deceitful
than the human heart without the control of its Maker. To believe that mankind is basically good is to NOT believe God. Mankind
was created in the image of God, but that does not make him god-like. In our fallen, broken, sinful state we are desperately
wicked of heart. And some are worse than others, definitely, but I think if we were all honest, we would have to admit that, for
the most part, we are self-centered, self-righteous, self-important and self-promoting. Our entire lives are meant to be GOD-
centered, GOD-based righteousness, GOD-important, and GOD-promoting. But we can’t trust our hearts – we shouldn’t.
Who can know it? Who can know the heart of man? God can, that’s who. In verse 10 God says, I, the Lord (the I AM) search
the heart, and test the mind. And with that power God can give every person what he or she deserves according to how that
person trusted – whether in man or in the Lord. Once again, this is kind of a warning to those who think they can fake out God –
make themselves LOOK like a good Christian. God is not fooled. Look at Galatians 6:7,8. READ. You might be able to fool
other people, but there is no fooling God. Why not try to get as close to Him as you can instead of seeing how far away from
Him you can get? Blessed is the person whose trust is in the Lord and whose hope is the Lord.
Verses 6 and 8 of Jeremiah 17 contrast those who are cursed and those who are blessed. Look at Jeremiah 17:12,13. READ.
God Himself is the sanctuary of those who trust Him and do what He says. Those who forsake the Lord will be ashamed. Those
who depart from the Lord will not endure – they will have their names written NOT in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev 20:15), but
instead their names will be written in the earth – in the dust. What happens to things written in the dust? They quickly disappear.
Either wind or water wipes it away. Their sin was written with an iron pen and a diamond point, but their names are written in
the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the Fountain of Living Waters. The Lord Himself will wash away their names.
This is not a reference to annihilation, but rather to the fact that what God had planned and chosen for these people will never
come to pass. It will all add up to nothing of eternal value. What a waste of a life. How much do you want to yield your life to
the Lord and have it count for what He wants it for – eternal stuff?
Jeremiah 17:14-18. READ. As Jeremiah realizes what God is saying to people, he begs for God’s deliverance, healing and
protection. Verse 14 – When YOU heal, O Lord, there is real healing. When YOU save, O Lord, there is true salvation
(and remember from last Sunday that salvation is in Jesus Christ alone). You, the one who heals and the one who saves
are my praise – it’s all because of you, Lord, that I can experience anything hopeful. In verse 15 Jeremiah tells what the
rotten people around him are saying – “Where’s all this bad stuff, Jeremiah? Bring it on.” That sounds like people at the
end times. 2 Peter 3:3,4. READ. But just like in the end times, God is patient here in Jeremiah and with us today. Look
at what Peter says next. 2 Peter 3:5-9. READ. Back in Jeremiah 17, Jeremiah responds to their mocking – I have not
withdrawn from shepherding these people and following closely behind You, Lord. Notice, if you use the KJV, the word
“pastor” instead of shepherd there in verse 16. In our 21st century American churches we may misunderstand that.
Jeremiah was not a pastor of a local body of believers. The word pastor means “shepherd.” It’s a good translation – but it
may confuse some of us. But that’s one thing a pastor does is shepherd people, care for them, feed them, lead them to
nourishment and rest. Jeremiah says that he has done those things even with these mocking people. In return, they
persecute him and mock him and try to put him to shame. But his hope is the Lord, his trust is in the Lord.
If you and I live fully devoted lives to Jesus Christ and allow Him to live His life in us, whose responsibility is it to show the power
of God in us? It is HIS. As Major Ian Thomas says, all we have to do each day is realize that it is God’s business, God’s
responsibility to do God’s stuff in us and through us and then say, “Thank You.” to Him and watch what He does with our lives.
Jeremiah’s trust was in the Lord and his hope was the Lord, so he could go out day after day, month after month and year after
year and proclaim God’s message to these people who rejected him and mocked him and persecuted him. Jeremiah realized that it
was God’s business and God would take care of business…every day…in every way…it’s alright…He’s workin’ overtime…
You and I have the opportunity to live the same way – that’s how we are meant to live. Fully yield yourself to the Lord Jesus
Christ and thank Him every moment for what He will accomplish using you and watch and be amazed at what He does.
The final section of Jeremiah 17 is God’s call to His people to respond to Him by doing the very first thing He ever asked them to
do – keep the Sabbath. In Genesis 2:1-3 God blessed the seventh day of the week and God rested from His creation activities. In
Exodus 31 God declares that the seventh day of the week is a perpetual Sabbath for His chosen people and in Leviticus 16, the
Sabbath rest is declared a statute forever among the Jews. We are not Jews – we do not have to keep the Sabbath. And just a
reminder, the Sabbath is Saturday – the seventh day of the week. Sunday is not the Sabbath, Sunday is the first day of the week.
We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, so we worship on the day He rose from the dead – the first day of the week,
Sunday. Jeremiah 17:19 -27 is call from God to His chosen people to at LEAST respond to that command.
How do you want to be remembered? What do you want on your tombstone? Do you want your children to remember all the
cars you had or all the TV you watched or all the sports you made them play? Do you want your children to remember all your
stuff. Or do you want your legacy to be this person trusted in the Lord and the Lord was his/her hope?