An old Norwegian preacher friend of mine, - in fact we labored together in the Lord´s business - once confessed that in many ways he could identify himself with the prophet Jeremiah. My friend is today in Heaven.

I´m an old man myself now, and I too claim spiritual kinship with Jeremiah.  In an age with Christian apostasy, religious deceit, stagey "worship" and heartless lip service, this lonely prophet becomes very present to me, not the least when he says, "I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, nor did I rejoice..."  (ch. 15:17). 

The story repeats itself.  There are Christian assemblies that in the outward proudly subscribe to good orthodoxy, but in their worldly behavior are a mockery to God like what we read in Romans 2:24, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

I´m sometimes accused of being "old testament like" by some church goers, but they should remember that the same charge applies to men like Jonathan Edwards,  Finney, Spurgeon, Billy Graham and many others.

The ministry  of Jeremiah works both ways however.  He could also in God´s presence  say, "Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart"  (ch. 15:16) despite the fact that he, human as he was, could be overwhelmed by spiritual fatique and wish he´d never been born (ch. 15:10).  But that makes him even more precious to me.

My thoughts often go back to that Norwegian friend of mine.  In those days I didn´t quite understand him.  But I do now. The loneliness of being a disciple I experience more and more, and sitting alone severed from the frivolous, carefree assembly life (ch. 15:17) I know a little about it now.

And yet, the rejoicing of Jeremiah is also there.  No matter what, ye mockers,  the gospel is our charter, Calvary our platform, the Holy Spirit our anointing, so "Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before!" 

Yes, Thou heavenly commander-in-chief,  onward, onward, onward!

Nov. 30, 2017 - jn