Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.
Jeremiah 29:4–5 ESV.
We live in a strange time. The foundation of our civilization, which we thought was as solid as bedrock, is being blown to pieces day by day. Basic fundamental truths are being undermined. It’s a little concerning, isn’t it? How can we, as Christians, live in such an alien world that refuses to acknowledge God and truth?
Yet, that is our mission. Jesus himself has sent us into the world. But since we are not of the world, no matter where we live in this fallen world, we will never feel at home. Our true home is somewhere better, higher, together with our creator in heaven. Until we are there, we are sojourners and exiles, just like every generation of God’s people have been before us, from Abraham in Canaan, to the Israelites in Babylon, to the early Christians in Judea, Greece, and Rome. We are sojourners who are seeking a better country, a heavenly homeland.
But we are sojourners with a house! We build our houses, and we live in them! We plow the land, and we eat the harvest! We live and love and rejoice, and in everything we do, we know that our God is with us. He is the one who has sent us out into this crumbling civilization, and he doesn’t leave his children alone in the darkness. He will be with us until the end, and then he will welcome us home, home to himself, to the room that he has prepared for us.
Therefore, live! And know that God has a purpose. He has sent you here.
