Today in the One Year Bible, we finish up the book of Jeremiah. We read Jeremiah 51:54-52:34. In this verse, we see what happens when someone fights against God. He says, "Her mighty men are captured, and their weapons break in their hands." Fighting against God is ultimately futile. If you fight against God, you will lose.
But ... haven't we been talking about people being evil and yet succeeding in the previous weeks? Haven't we talked about good people suffering? If fighting against God is futile, then how can the wicked prosper?
Well, they only prosper for an instant. They only enjoy the results of their actions for the blink of an eye. And then, even in this life, their victory is worse than Pyrrhic. The taste of victory goes dry in their mouths. They need more and ever MORE to fill the opening void inside their souls. And then, when this life ends, which it does all too quickly, they face the eternal consequences of their actions.
Meanwhile, those who follow Jesus are on the winning side. Even though it looks dark sometimes, even though we suffer real losses and endure real pain... it's only for an instant. Even IN that instant, there is joy and meaning and love mixed into the pain to make it bittersweet.
And then when this life is over, as it is so quickly... oh man. The joy waiting makes everything else seem like less than nothing.
God, thanks for teaching us that fighting against You is futile.
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