Jump Start # 311

 Jeremiah 6:14 “And they have healed the brokenness of my people superficially, saying ‘peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.”

  The sixth chapter of Jeremiah is a sad page in our Bibles. God speaking through the prophet, reveals the shallow, false and empty spiritual lives of His people. The indictments are numerous and grave:

• Everyone is greedy (6:13)
• They are not ashamed of what they have done (6:15)
• They are unable even to blush (6:15)
• They declare that they will not walk in the ways of the Lord (6:16)

  Our verse is found right in the midst of these troublesome words. The people were broken. Broken in spirit and broken by sin. Instead of calling for repentance, they were given band-aides to cover up a much more serious problem. The people were told there is peace, when there wasn’t.

  We all want to hear good news. When the kids race home from school shouting good news, we want to hear that. When the boss says, “I’ve got some good news for you,” it sounds promising. God’s word is about good news. The word “gospel” means “good news.”

  But to tell someone false things just to avoid the truth or reality doesn’t help anyone. As our verse indicates, it heals only “superficially.” It’s like painting over cracks in the wall. The cracks are still there. The problems of Israel remained. Denying things by declaring everything is just fine, doesn’t solve anything. Peace, peace when there is not peace! First, the person who declares there is peace is lying, because there is no peace. Second, the person who believes the message of peace, will not need to change, because he believes there is peace. He’s been sold things that simply aren’t so.

  Why would someone do this? Most likely because they don’t want to deal with the difficulty of bad news. That would involve change, repentance and growth. To say, “everything is fine” when it is not, requires no effort.

  Prophets are not the only ones who do this.

• This is done in marriages. I’ve had couples tell me that everything is great only to learn that one of them had already contacted a lawyer to start the divorce process. Peace, peace when there is no peace. To admit that the marriage isn’t well means counseling, changing, working on things. Painful. Hard. Some would rather just close their eyes and say, “peace, peace.”

• This is done in churches. Like marriages, some churches, many churches have serious problems. Instead of dealing with those problems, which are really people issues, they declare that everything is fine. Peace, peace when there is no peace. Members leave. Families get discouraged. Growth stops. And the leadership continues to believe, “peace, peace.” It’s time to roll up the sleeves. It’s time to preach the basics. It’s time for Bible studies, home visits and tending those sheep. Denying the obvious is simply believing a lie.

• This is done by individuals who believe they are right with God even though they have not done what God said. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk 16:16). That baptism is in water and it is an immersion that follows repentance (Acts 2:38). Many have never done that. They don’t want to do that. They have been told, “peace, peace, when there is no peace.” Throughout the book of Acts, page after page, people heard the gospel, believed the message, repented of their sins and were immersed in Jesus Christ for the remission of their sins. Those at Pentecost did that. Lydia did that. The jailer did that. Cornelius did that. The eunuch did that. The Corinthians did that. How come you haven’t? Peace, peace when there is no peace.

  Telling someone the truth can be painful, especially when they are not right. But it is worth the trouble if they become right. Ezekiel tells the story of a watchman looking over the city walls. When he sees the enemy approaching he calls out. If the people do not heed the call, he is not responsible. But if he sees the enemy coming and fails to call out, their blood is on his hands. Don’t cry peace peace, when there is no peace.

  The reality of sin, the pain of brokenness, a day eating pig food with the prodigal brings a person to their senses. Shame, guilt and emptiness can lead us to Christ. Those long journeys through the valleys are hard, but there is something on the other side of the valley. There are green pastures awaiting us. Don’t close your eyes to what is going on in your families, in your marriage, in the congregations, but more so, in your heart. Sometimes things are not fine. Sometimes we must get the tools out and do some fixing. Sometimes we need to call family meetings and talk. Sometimes a congregation needs to be reminded of why we are here and what is it that we should be doing.

  Peace comes through Jesus Christ. At His birth the angels declared that He would bring peace on earth. Isaiah painted the picture of people beating their swords into plows. This is not to imply nations never going to war, but people, folks like you and I, finding peace with Jesus. It is a journey. It involves faith. It requires a serious look at where we are. Declaring peace when there isn’t any is a false reality.

Roger