An Expected End
Jeremiah. 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
This expected end here, is “the thing that the Lord longs for”.
This expected end is to hear when we get to heaven: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”. (Matthew 25:21)
God expects us to follow Him, and to this end He works within us and on us; so that He can bless us.
When we are first born again, our love of the Lord Jesus is very strong……
…..something, or someone has come between our heart’s affection and the Lord……our sight becomes affected.
We no longer see Christ as our all.
First it is “Christ and….everything else in their place.”
But then, it is “something…and Christ”
He has already slipped into a second place.
Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah is telling God’s people that God will be found of those who seek for Him.
For you see, “seek” and “search” are words used only when something is lost. Israel had lost true fellowship with God.
But the Lord says: “seek” Me:
The word is used as though we must go out of our comfort zone and look around us.
When we do,…..we can begin to see all the abundance of things He has done for us……and said to us.
To seek, is to think on these things, and on Who He is.
And as we do, we will “find Me.”
We are to “search” with all our hearts:
That is to take everything apart if necessary, to find the most valuable Object: Christ Jesus, Himself.
It is to throw away the other things we trust in, or have looked to.
We must tear away the pretenses we have wrapped ourselves in. (I’m OK, sure I’m not as close to the Lord as before, it seems as though something has come between us; but I’m sure it will work itself out? Right?)
When we do get these things out of the way:
“And I will be found of you, saith the Lord:…” (Jeremiah 29:14)
I have been as the Prodigal son, in a “far country” from God. But when I, too, “came to myself”, and saw things as they really were; I came home to the Father. (Luke 15:17-24)
The Father does not berate him, but runs out to meet him….and restores him.
So He does with all who will “seek” and “search”; and come home to Him.
There is an expected end for each believer. The thing He longs for.
That He may say to all of us: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 