A Good Thing Is On the Way
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A Good Thing Is On the Way
A Good Thing Is On the Way
JER
14 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
Introduction
Have you ever wondered how anything good can come out of your present situation? There are times when it appears that circumstances and conditions are hopeless. A child seems hopelessly lost. A marriage seems hopelessly beyond repair. A friendship seems hopelessly scarred. A relationship seems hopelessly flawed. When that feeling comes, it leaves us frustrated. We feel beyond help. Yet, the promises of God still loom over us and linger near. “In the days ahead, I will perform that good thing.”
also reminds us of the new life and renewed blessings that are associated with his coming. His coming was the fulfillment of God’s promise to mankind. His coming is also a reminder of God’s promise to every believer. When we think of that it gives us hope, regardless of our situation. Why? Because God’s word promises that “In the days ahead, I will perform that good thing.” As Christians, we are encouraged by the knowledge that God never makes a promise that he cannot or will not keep. When he promised the world a Savior, he delivered. He has promised some good things to us as well; he will deliver.
We are surrounded by promises. Sometimes we hear so many promises that we become immune to them. Politicians promise to change things, but we usually get the same thing. Spouses promise to love each other until death do them part but it usually means until they get tired of each other. Salesmen promise us that the product they are hawking is an amazing bargain, but often it turns out just the opposite. We even promise ourselves that we are going to do better, but usually end up making better promises.
also reminds us of the new life and renewed blessings that are associated with his coming. His coming was the fulfillment of God’s promise to mankind. His coming is also a reminder of God’s promise to every believer. When we think of that it gives us hope, regardless of our situation. Why? Because God’s word promises that “In the days ahead, I will perform that good thing.” As Christians, we are encouraged by the knowledge that God never makes a promise that he cannot or will not keep. When he promised the world a Savior, he delivered. He has promised some good things to us as well; he will deliver.
We are surrounded by promises. Sometimes we hear so many promises that we become immune to them. Politicians promise to change things, but we usually get the same thing. Spouses promise to love each other until death do them part but it usually means until they get tired of each other. Salesmen promise us that the product they are hawking is an amazing bargain, but often it turns out just the opposite. We even promise ourselves that we are going to do better, but usually end up making better promises. We hear so many promises that it gets hard for some to believe any promises; even the innocent sounding promises. “I promise you, tomorrow will be a better day.” “I promise you, everything is going to be alright.” “I promise you that if you do good in school in eat your vegetables you will be pretty and strong, strong, loved and liked.” Unfortunately, there are many who live by the promises of their family and friends only to discover that reality is not able to keep up with their promises. The world is notorious for breaking its promises. They all seem too good to be true. What about the promises of God? Can we count on them? The great D.L. Moody said, “God never made a promise that was too good to be true.” If God said it, you can believe it. If God promised it, it will come to pass. It gets hard to remember that when things are not going well, but it is still true. God will keep every promise that he has made to you and your family. The coming of Christ reminds of his words, ““In the days ahead, I will perform that good thing.” During advent our attention focuses on the coming of Christ into the world. That also reminds us of the new life and renewed blessings that are associated with his coming. His coming was the fulfillment of God’s promise to mankind. His coming is also a reminder of God’s promise to every believer. When we think of that it gives us hope, regardless of our situation. Why? Because God’s word promises that “In the days ahead, I will perform that good thing.” As Christians, we are encouraged by the knowledge that God never makes a promise that he cannot or will not keep. When he promised the world a Savior, he delivered. He has promised some good things to us as well; he will deliver.
We hear so many promises that it gets hard for some to believe any promises; even the innocent sounding promises. “I promise you, tomorrow will be a better day.” “I promise you, everything is going to be alright.” “I promise you that if you do good in school in eat your vegetables you will be pretty and strong, strong, loved and liked.”
Unfortunately, there are many who live by the promises of their family and friends only to discover that reality is not able to keep up with their promises. The world is notorious for breaking its promises. They all seem too good to be true.
What about the promises of God? Can we count on them? The great D.L. Moody said, “God never made a promise that was too good to be true.” If God said it, you can believe it. If God promised it, it will come to pass.
It gets hard to remember that when things are not going well, but it is still true. God will keep every promise that he has made to you and your family. The coming of Christ reminds of his words, ““In the days ahead, I will perform that good thing.”
During advent our attention focuses on the coming of Christ into the world. That also reminds us of the new life and renewed blessings that are associated with his coming. His coming was the fulfillment of God’s promise to mankind. His coming is also a reminder of God’s promise to every believer. When we think of that it gives us hope, regardless of our situation. Why? Because God’s word promises that “In the days ahead, I will perform that good thing.”
As Christians, we are encouraged by the knowledge that God never makes a promise that he cannot or will not keep. When he promised the world a Savior, he delivered. He has promised some good things to us as well; he will deliver.
Exposition
This text focuses on a promise of God given at a time when it seemed like everything was lost.
The words of this text were given at a time when the city of Jerusalem was surrounded by the Babylonians who decided to lay siege against the city and starve its residents into surrender. The people saw nothing good in their situation. For many it was hopeless (32:1). The words of this prophecy came as an assurance from God that through his power that he would destroy Babylon, and restore Judah after their exile. However, God warned them that for now there would be no immediate relief for their situation. (30:12-15).
However, in the future, God would restore Judah to health, rebuild her cities, and fill the nation with joy (30:17-22). In His loving-kindness God would restore His covenant with them; it would be an everlasting new covenant written on their hearts (31:1-3, 31-37).
Even though the prophecy did not promise any immediate relief, it gave the people hope because God promised a good thing to them in the interim. The fact that they would be restored also meant that they would not be destroyed. That was a good thing. They would survive and rebound.
Jeremiah believed God’s promises that the nation would return to the Promised Land. Since God created the earth and controls everyone on it, it is possible to believe that God could cleanse the sins of Judah, restore people and joy to the land, set the messianic branch from the line of David on the throne, and reestablish worship in the temple (33:1-22).
The Good thing that God promised Judah was that there would be a deliverer. There would be savior born among them.
The coming savior would be a good thing. He would be a good thing for the nation and he would be a good thing for every believer. He would bring restoration and a new kingdom.
As God promised, Judah was taken captive. They did experience a hard time in exile while in Babylon, but they were also returned to their homeland, just as God promised.
Under the Persians they were finally allowed to return to their homeland. The remnant restored to the land became the channel through which the promised Messiah came, born in David’s natal city Bethlehem. They became the bridge through which the promised Messiah would come. .
As Israel waited, they heard the words of God declaring, “In the days ahead, I will perform that good thing.”
promised Messiah would come. As Israel waited, they heard the words of God declaring, “In the days ahead, I will perform that good thing.”
Five Promises of God
What has God promised believers? There are many promises God has made to believers, some were specific to an individual. Others were specific to an entire generation. The promises are varied but follow these five patterns:
I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE: God has promised believers that he will never leave us alone. reminds us not to be overly disturbed about what we don’t seem to have because not a day passes in which God leaves us alone. “I will never leave thee or forsake thee.”
I AM THY SHIELD: Often believers are weary about directions that we face in life. We are like Abraham who was sometimes hesitant to act because of the large mass of enemies around him. God says to us what he said to Abraham in , “I am thy shield and thy great reward.”
I WILL STRENGTHEN AND HELP THEE: When we are weak or caught in a weakness, we are overwhelmed by our own inabilities. That’s when God speaks to us like he spoke to Isaiah and reminded him that what strength he needed God would supply. God spoke directly to Isaiah but he spoke to us too in when he said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
I WILL GIVE YOU REST: A great promise of God is to find rest and relief from our many burdens and problems. Jesus told those who followed him that one of the rewards of living the believer’s life is the ability to find peace and rest. God promises to give us that rest. Christ reaffirmed it in , “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”
NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHOLD: Believers have the reassurance that any good thing that true believers desire will not be withheld from them. Good things are those things which are according to God’s will. If what we want is in God’s will it is a good thing and it will never be withheld. That’s a promise that is reaffirmed in which says, “No good thing will He withhold from them that work uprightly”
Responding to the Promises God
The promises of God are real and sure. However, there are many in the world who are skeptical of God’s promises because they have seen the promises of so many others fall by the wayside. That is not the case with God. Anything that God promises he can deliver. There are many who cannot bring themselves to trust God because men have failed them. Their employers have failed them. Their co-workers have failed them.
These are the individuals who find themselves doubting God.
These are the individuals who find themselves doubting God. Like Sarah, they find it amusing when God makes a promise that seems impossible in light of the circumstances. Like Pharaoh, they believe that faith in God’s promises are the folly of the ignorant and whatever signs we see are cheap magician’s tricks. Like King Saul, they believe that should follow their own mind because God’s will should only be trusted when his will mirrors our will. The coming of the Christ child should say to those who may doubt God, that he is truly able to do exactly as he says. The skeptics doubt God and dismiss this celebration as an opportune time to celebrate anything they desire. However, the believer does not see it that way. Believers are anxiously excited about this time of the year because it reminds us of one of the greatest evidences of God’s power, the incarnation of his Son in Bethlehem. In Bethlehem we see God’s promise to Israel realized. In our own lives we revisit over and over again how God’s promise effects our own lives. When we think of the baby and the cradle in Bethlehem, we are reminded that “In a few days, I will perform that good thing.”
Like Sarah, they find it amusing when God makes a promise that seems impossible in light of the circumstances.
Like Pharaoh, they believe that faith in God’s promises are the folly of the ignorant and whatever signs we see are cheap magician’s tricks.
Like King Saul, they believe that should follow their own mind because God’s will should only be trusted when his will mirrors our will.
The coming of the Christ child should say to those who may doubt God, that he is truly able to do exactly as he says.
The skeptics doubt God and dismiss this celebration as an opportune time to celebrate anything they desire. However, the believer does not see it that way.
Believers are anxiously excited about this time of the year because it reminds us of one of the greatest evidences of God’s power, the incarnation of his Son in Bethlehem.
In Bethlehem we see God’s promise to Israel realized. In our own lives we revisit over and over again how God’s promise effects our own lives. When we think of the baby and the cradle
in Bethlehem, we are reminded that “In a few days, I will perform that good thing.”
It won’t be long
Finally, this text reminds us that it won’t be long before God acts on his promise to us.
The text says, “Behold the day is coming” which is an announcement of truth that God is not slack, the good thing is coming.
In a similar manner each of us should say to ourselves, the good thing that God has promised us has not been forgotten but it is on the way.
Behold the day is coming, when there shall be peace on earth.
Behold the day is coming, when the wicked will cease from troubling and the weary will be at rest.
Behold the day is coming, when we will lay down our sword and shield and study war no more.
There may be some who might believe that God has forgotten his promise as it relates to their situation, but God is not slack. Whatever he promises he will bring to pass.
How long will it take that good thing to reach you?
How long will it take the blessing that you seek to finally arrive?
How long will it take the good thing that you are waiting for to finally happen?
How long will it take for you to finally turn the corner and things begin to look up?
When we consider that answer we must look at Bethlehem.
There had been no message from God for 400 years, then suddenly a star appeared bringing them hope.
Long before they saw the light from the star, the light was on its way?
How long did the light take to reach earth?
The answer might amaze you. Our solar system is about 6 billion miles across. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains roughly 400 billion stars, the nearest of which (Alpha Centauri) is 26 trillion miles away, or 4.5 light-years.
did the light take to reach earth? The answer might amaze you. Our solar system is about 6 billion miles across. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains roughly 400 billion stars, the nearest of which (Alpha Centauri) is 26 trillion miles away, or 4.5 light-years. At the rate of 186,324 miles a second, light travels about 5.8 trillion miles in a year. When God decided to cause the North star to shine brightly, it took 400 years for that light to reach earth from the North Star. The star the wise men saw, began shining at the close of the old Testament and took 400 years to get to the earth. Long before they saw it, God had already begun to make good on his promise. Are you frustrated because it appears that your good thing never seems to come, be assured that the words of this text are still true, in a short while God will perform the good thing he has promised. Can God do what he says? The record bears testimony that God is able! He’s able to take our: —Fears and turn them into faith; SADNESS and turn it into gladness! —WEAKNESS and turn it into strength; RESERVATIONS and turn them into confirmations! —FAILURES and turn them into successes; LOSSES and turn them into gains! Down in Bethlehem, God performed a good thing! A baby was born in a manager! That baby changed the world! Down in Galilee, God performed a good thing. The sick were healed and the blind were given their sight. Down in Jerusalem, God performed a good thing, the price for our salvation was paid on an old rugged cross! Jesus, Mary’s baby! Jesus, the Lion of Judah! Jesus, was born in a manger and died on an old rugged cross! But early Sunday morning, he arose from the grave! Don’t worry about it anymore! Your good thing is on the way!
At the rate of 186,324 miles a second, light travels about 5.8 trillion miles in a year. When God decided to cause the North star to shine brightly, it took 400 years for that light to reach earth from the North Star.
The star the wise men saw, began shining at the close of the old Testament and took 400 years to get to the earth. Long before they saw it, God had already begun to make good on his promise.
Are you frustrated because it appears that your good thing never seems to come, be assured that the words of this text are still true, in a short while God will perform the good thing he has promised.
Can God do what he says? The record bears testimony that God is able! He’s able to take our:
—Fears and turn them into faith; SADNESS and turn it into gladness!
—WEAKNESS and turn it into strength; RESERVATIONS and turn them into confirmations!
—FAILURES and turn them into successes; LOSSES and turn them into gains! Down in Bethlehem, God performed a good thing!
A baby was born in a manager! That baby changed the world!
Down in Galilee, God performed a good thing. The sick were healed and the blind were given their sight.
Down in Jerusalem, God performed a good thing, the price for our salvation was paid on an old rugged cross!
Jesus, Mary’s baby!
Jesus, the Lion of Judah!
Jesus, was born in a manger and died on an old rugged cross!
But early Sunday morning, he arose from the grave!
Don’t worry about it anymore! Your good thing is on the way!