What Do We Really Want?

“They have eyes, but they don’t see. They have ears, but they don’t hear.” Jeremiah 5:21

 

Wait, I’m sorry. Is Jeremiah talking about all of these people around me? 

 

Teenagers at school walk down the hall. Their faces lost in a silent conversation on their phone. A student walks by with AirPods stuck in their ears. 

 

“Good morning!” I smile as the student walks past me.

 

They do a double-take after I smile for an extended amount of time, “Huh?” 

 

“Good morning!” I say again. 

 

“Oh yeah,” they walk through my classroom door putting their AirPod back in place. 

 

Before we start the eye rolls and saying things like, “Kids these days!”, let me take you down the grocery store aisle on a typical Sunday night.

 

I grab my grocery cart, heading to the produce section. Multiple adults talk on the phone. One person passes by, oblivious to their surroundings. One stands in the middle of the aisle blocking both the sweet potatoes and apples. 

 

I head down the baking aisle for my large bag of dark chocolate chips, a staple in my house. Another adult scrolls on her phone, unaware her shopping cart drifts aimlessly. Her child watches something on an iPad. 

 

Before I get too self-righteous, I’m listening to my favorite podcast as I walk the aisles. Making eye contact with people, I only offer a head nod of recognition. No need for any social interaction. That is too much! 

 

This is NOT about technology or criticizing a specific generation. This is NOT about the “Five Best Ways to Reconnect with People.” This is NOT about how to “do community. “

 

This is EVERYTHING about keeping our hearts in check! 

 

When Jeremiah describes these people who have eyes but can’t see and ears but can’t hear, he’s describing a people group who has abandoned The Lord. 

 

King Josiah takes efforts to change the landscape of the nation at the time. He tears down places worshiping other gods. He builds back up the temple of God. Yet, the people stubbornly keep on keeping on with their worship of other gods. 

 

Enter Jeremiah, the prophet whose job is to tell the people about the impending doom coming their way. Enemies coming to attack. The Coronavirus sweeping the world…ok, ok…so that’s not in the Bible. God didn’t give mass orders to wash their hands but he did give mass orders to “wash your heart from wickedness…” Jeremiah 4:14. 

 

The Lord’s exact words say, “I will bring disaster…and great destruction” Jeremiah 4:6. 

 

The Lord tells Jeremiah, “When people ask, ‘For what offense has the Lord our God done all these things to us?’ You will respond to them, ‘Just as you abandoned me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’” Jeremiah 5:19

 

When Israel’s world is threatened, the people ask, “Why is this happening?” 

 

Basically, Jeremiah has to let them know they’re about to get exactly what they wanted all along. You wanted to serve foreign gods. Cool, cool. Have at it, but you can’t stay in your comfortable norms and daily routine. It’s time to get serious about what you want.

 

God shifts the setting. He lets them worship what they want, except in a strange land that is not their own. They have to learn new social norms, new routines, new habits, new scenery. Overwhelmed by destruction and the newness of being scattered to unknown places, they have to decide what’s really important. What do they really want?

 

He wants them to return to him. To see him. To hear him. To love him. 

 

This change of setting, does it help align their desires with The Lord’s desire? 

 

At the end of chapter 5 Jeremiah leaves the people with this God-given question in verse 31, “…but what will you do at the end of it?” 

 

Will they keep worshipping these foreign gods or will they return to him?

 

Let’s bring it back to 2020. 

 

We often say we’re so busy we wish we had more time. Yet, we constantly rush off to the next thing. We often say we want a deeper connection. Yet, we walk around in our own isolated worlds. AirPods, earbuds, headphones in place. Screens blocking our scenes. 

 

This season of “Social Distancing” or “Physical Distancing” or “Safer at Home” orders has shifted our setting. New social norms, new routines, new habits, new scenery. Overwhelmed by newness & being scattered, we have to decide what’s really important.

 

Are we truly seeing the people and gifts around us?

Are we truly hearing the Prince of Peace call us back to him?

 

He’s changing the setting. Shifting the scenery. What are we doing with it?

 

3 Things We Can Do:

Serve: Act justly

Take a look around. What justice needs your voice or support? Does a neighbor need groceries brought over? Does a local organization or business need some support? Does someone need a healthy reminder to simply stay home? Does your commissioner need to hear your voice via email on a subject you’re passionate about?

 

Rest: Love his faithfulness

Take a minute each day to remember. He is faithful even when the world is standing on shifting sand. Are you listing out all the truths you know about your God or this God you’ve heard about? Are you remembering these truths when the fear starts to rise up? Are you living faithfully because you know he is faithful? 

 

Ask: Walk humbly with your God

Take a minute to ask. Ask God to show you what is needed for today, for this moment. Ask him to give you wisdom as you plan for this week, the next month, the next few months. Ask him to guide your steps and then keep moving forward. 

 

“Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

 

What small steps are you taking to reevaluate your heart’s priorities? What is it you really want? Do you feel those desires aligning with God’s desires?