Turn Away
Jeremiah 2: 20–21
Chapter 2 of the book of Jeremiah is a tough, tough pill to swallow. It’s a sorrowful declaration from the Lord Himself, rebuking our backsliding, idolization, patterns of sin and our general separation from Him. The Bible reminds us time and time again that the Lord will not forsake us or separate from us. Our lives are proof of that. But the Bible also displays how people, time and time again, separate themselves from God, that being evident in our lives as well.
What makes this chapter sad is that the Lord yearns for us. You can almost hear Him sadly reminiscing in verse 2, “I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me…” And it doesn’t end there. It actually continues in us. When you make the decision to drink after you quit drinking because the Spirit rebuked you, when you break your celibacy with someone who is not your spouse, when you start going to places you stopped going to or doing the things you stopped doing. When we become apathetic about our relationship with God, we break His heart.
So as we’re ending a season and starting a new one, I have to ask you, where is the devotion you had for God, Jesus Christ your Savior who lifted you from the pits. The friend and Father who saved you from the darkness you are now running toward, where is your devotion for your Lord?
See, going back into darkness starts in small bits of disobedience. You’re not telling blatant lies but you’re omitting information to persuade circumstances in your favour. You’re not idolizing something but you just sacrificed a moment or two with God to attend to that particular thing. And in moments like these, the Lord is gracious and blesses us with His Spirit, so, we know better. He made sure we do.
These small moments of disobedience turn into bigger ones where you find yourself in full blown sin. You find yourself in friendship with darkness.
Verse 21 is included in our reflection passage because God wants you to see yourself the way he intended you to be, “choice vine of fine and reliable stock”. He compares this to prostitution. When we fall into darkness, it’s like we’re available to just anyone and anything to do whatever whenever just for a lousy moment of gratification.
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When we come to Christ, the Lord prunes us. We stop doing the things we used to and he even takes people out of your life. You might see why but you might also completely miss the reason. But when you decide to go see for yourself it can get ugly. Not ugly in the sense that you’ll hate it, no. There’s a good chance you’ll actually love it like a drug. And you’ll go back and you’ll be hooked and you will know “where I am and what I’m doing is not designed by God” but the more we return to these things, the easier we can reason with the voice of the enemy. “It’s just this time” “It’s not that bad” “I’m allowed to live my life the way I want to” “I don’t care”.
Once you reach that point, you are in dangerous territory. Paul writes that yes, you are free to do whatever you want but not everything is beneficial.
The object or person is not just toxic, it is your master (1 Corinthians 6:12).
But there is hope. For as long as you’re breathing, there is always hope in Jesus Christ.
First, last and middle, take it to God. Honestly confess to Him the dark path you’ve taken. If you feel stuck or like you’re never going to leave that place, tell Him that too. He doesn’t want false religion or fake remorse. Tell it to Him as it is and ask Him to intervene. Also confess to a friend. Not someone who will encourage you to go on in dark paths, but someone who will understand the spiritual fight you are facing.
Secondly, see the patterns. If drinking is the backsliding, ask yourself how it happened, who it might have happened with, where it happened, how were you feeling. Do an assessment and do it seriously. Do not play about your relationship with Jesus.
Realise that some of these things, you might not just snap out of them because the flesh only gets hungrier when you start feeding it so your next step is to say no to yourself. It’s the least we can do for someone who died for us. So set boundaries and stick to them. Don’t tell yourself “I’m no longer drinking”. Start with avoiding the situations that bring you to drinking. Not just setting boundaries but replacing negative habits or activities with healthier ones. You don’t want to end up idle because the devil will give you something to do, something to keep you busy with (Ecclesiastes 10:18).
The final way is to allow Jesus back into your life. Spend time with Him again when you rise and as you end your day, take Him through your day, commune with other believers, listen to music that reverently glorifies Him, write to Him, write from Him. When He knocks, open the door and remember to open the door every single day.
It’s time to live a life worthy of one who is called and set apart. Not merely for a moment, but every day, in every season and in every circumstance in Jesus Name, Amen.
