Merritt Opening Song: #15 My Maker and My King Title: Before the World
Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-9, The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
A man was in a limo driving by Wexner Art Center. Driver said, “This is a new art building for the university. It’s designed in post-modern view of reality.” The building had no pattern. Stairs went nowhere. Pillars support nothing. Architect designed the building to reflect his view of life. To him, life went nowhere, was mindless, senseless. The passenger thought about that then asked, “Did they do the same thing with the foundation?”
The driver laughed and said, “You can’t do that with a foundation!”
Ephesians 1:4, According as He has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. The Lord said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” God is telling us before your life had any foundation, God chose you. When people think of God’s voice, they think of Him saying what is wrong with them, as guilty conscience. But God more often comes to announce our extraordinary worth to God which started BEFORE we were born.
We were in God’s mind before we entered our mother’s womb. We were valuable before the world began, because already we began in His mind. Before creation, human history, God had a purpose. Not temporary arrangement, not a plan newly formed, not changeable with each generation, or variable like people. Importance, dignity, assurance, which result from a purpose that’s eternal in the mind of God. No matter when we live, the plan is eternal. God has no new plan; He forms no new schemes. He is not changing, fickle. God’s love for you is from before the world, secure and unmoving, not like people’s love.
Our worth is not tied to our abilities. If I spent 12 hours a day practicing piano I could never play like Mozart. I will never paint like Da Vinci, understand science like Einstein, sing like Celine or write like Elizabeth Browning. Many things I cannot do; reality dawns sooner than later. Truth is, you can’t be anything you want to be, but you can be all GOD wants you to be. God is where our identity is grounded. Our world places extreme value on appearances, youth, beauty, athletic strength, intelligence, education, wealth and fame. But what happens when a supermodel gains 20 pounds or gets past thirty? When Superman is confined in a wheelchair? When a computer whiz gets rare disease? When a star ends up addicted? When you have big career and lose it? What THEN? Where do you get worth, when everything on which you based your value has vanished?
SONG: YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING
In Jeremiah, accurate view of self comes from understanding God’s view. God told Jeremiah He had plans for his life; Jeremiah protested he couldn’t possibly be of value to God. Lord replied, “You must go to everyone I send you and say whatever I command you.” Jeremiah saw himself as having no value. You may not seem like much in your own estimation. Some people say, “I’m worth something because I am doing well and others look up to me.” That is a black hole in space. If feelings of self-worth are based on how other people see you, then you are hooked to the wrong star. People are fickle. Everyone gets 15 minutes of fame, then what? You climb ladder of success only to find it leans against the wrong tower.
God said, “For every living soul belongs to Me,” Ezekiel 18:4. Life has meaning only in relationship with God in Whose image we were created. He has purpose and plan for your life different from every other person. He says, “I know the plans I have for YOU,” Jeremiah 29:11. Jeremiah was a child in experience and understanding, born around 645 BC. God’s call came in 625 BC, so he was barely 20. In world’s standards, Jeremiah had nothing to offer. If not for God putting words in Jeremiah’s mouth, he had nothing to say. But God did not want Jeremiah to belittle himself. He told Jeremiah, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’”
The truth is we have nothing without God. But in God we’re something special. God formed man from dust of ground, breathed into nostrils breath of life, and man became a living being. We were made from dirt, yes, but God breathed HIS life into us. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing, but I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. Truth is we are sinners, all fall short of the glory of God BUT we are justified freely through Jesus. We are, at the very same time, sinners YET loved and valued by God.
We were made for glory of God; that is where our value comes. Jeremiah had sense of humility. He didn’t see God’s calling as something to feel superior over others. Even Jesus, Son of God, did not exalt Himself. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, Philippians 2:5-7. Jesus said, Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly, which means gentle and humble. Real self-esteem comes from humility, not pride, for God has said, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word,” Isaiah 66:2.
Apostle Paul said, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” Focus is off ourselves and on Jesus. Inferiority is another form of pride, feeling bad we’re not as good or not better than others. Pride is being self-focused. A person who feels inferior is also focused on themselves. As we grow in Jesus, we focus on God.
Rejoice with others for what God has given them. There will always be someone who can do what we do better than we do it, but we do what God has called us to do. Don’t worry about what you can’t do, concentrate on what you can do. Don’t worry about whether it’s as good as someone else, do the best you can, with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Somerset Maugham, the English author, wrote about a janitor at St Peter's Church in London. One day a young vicar discovered the janitor was illiterate so he heartlessly fired him. Jobless, the man invested meager savings in a tiny shop, but there he prospered, got another shop, expanded, and ended up with chain of stores worth a lot of money. One day the man's banker said, "You've done well for an illiterate man, but where would you be if you could read and write?"
"Well," replied the man, "I'd be janitor in St. Peter’s."
What if only the wealthiest person gave? What if only best musician played? If only the prettiest bird ever sang? Use what talents you possess; woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best. Look how much the world would miss! There is no one else like you in the whole world; God made only one you. You look the way you do, you have exactly amount of potential, intelligence and ability planned for you. There will always be someone with more, but there will never be anyone exactly like you. You are God’s gift to the world.
SONG: PLEASURE OF MY KING
Spring of 1883 two young men graduated from medical school. Ben was short and stocky. Will was tall and thin. Ben dreamed of practicing medicine on the East Coast. Will wanted to work in the country. Ben begged his friend to go to New York where they could both make a big fortune. Will had another plan. His friend called him foolish for going to Midwest. Will said, "I want most of all to be a surgeon, with all my ability." Years later, wealthy, powerful people came from New York and around the world to Will’s clinic, the Mayo Clinic. You can throw away God’s gifts to you, or you can use them for money or to suit yourself, or you can develop them. You can try to live in your own strength, or lean on God’s strength for full development of what He has given you.
One day our looks will change, abilities diminish, minds won’t remember as we once did. We may lose friends or spouse. What then? If worth is looks, smarts, education, youth, or abilities, then we’ll be shattered. Only thing that lasts; no one can take from you is relationship with God, our value in Him. All feelings about our self, others, and life must come from Him or we live in illusion.
An American tourist in Paris picked up an amber necklace in a shop. When he went through customs, he was shocked at high duty to pay. At home, he had the necklace appraised; jeweler said he’d give him $25,000. Owner was stunned and suspected there was reason for that offer, took it to antiques expert who appraised it MUCH higher. He asked what made it valuable; he said look in the magnifying glass. There were no jewels, no precious stones, not much gold but when he looked in the magnifying glass, he read: From Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine.
Ah, it was the name on the necklace that gave it extraordinary worth. Inscribed on your life is name of your Creator. He’s written His name across your life. You DO belong- to Master of the Universe. When He made you, He threw blueprint away and there is no one exactly like you. You are special because you are special to Him. No one else can take your place in His heart. It’s not always us waiting on God. Sometimes God is waiting on us; for us to be ready for His plans to become our plans. If our heart’s desire is to please and honor the Lord, how can that decision be a “bad” one?
A man came into a shop with a 'Salesman Wanted' sign in a window. He went to the owner and said, "I-I-I w-w-waannn-t the j-joooob-b."
"I don't know if a sales job would suit you because of your speech impediment."
"I h-h-have a w-wi-wife and s-s-s-six k-kkkids, I-I re-re-really neeeed thi-thi-this j-j-job!" said the man.
"O.K. Here are three Bibles. Go out and sell them." said owner.
So the man went and came back an hour later. "H-heres your m-m-money," said the man. Owner was impressed, so he gave a dozen more Bibles and sent him.
The man came back in two hours, "H-Heres y-yooour m-m-money."
The owner said, "Fantastic! You sold more Bibles in 3 hours than anyone did in a week. Tell me, what do you say to people when they come to the door?"
"W-welllll," said the man, "I r-r-ring the d-door bell a-a-and s-s-say, 'H-Hel-Hello M-m-aaaadam, d-d-do you w-w-want t-t-t-to buy thi-thi-this B-B-Bible, or d-d-do y-you w-w-want m-m-me t-toooo r-r-read it t-t-t-t-to you?"
Jeremiah is sent to people who are captive or in exile. Although they’re not where they expected, nor where they asked God to place them, God hasn’t forgotten and still has a plan for their lives.
SONG: NEVER SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN
Even in a difficult situation, God has a plan, No matter what our setbacks. Even though Israel suffered consequences of their own choices, God was planning a future and hope for them. Even though we may eat bitter fruit in our lives, God has not forsaken us. Jeremiah was from a priest not prophet’s family. God knew real reason for his resistance to God’s call was fear. Jeremiah grew up in political and religious turmoil; his sensitive nature reacted to fear of public involvement. Imagine public witness before kings Josiah, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah! To not fear when warning of disaster and destruction? Not be afraid to confront nations such as Babylon? All for over 40 years!
Jeremiah hesitated to accept authority of God’s Divine Commission. Jeremiah 1:9-10, Then the Lord reached out His hand and touched my mouth, "Now, I have put My words in your mouth. Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up or plant.”
Jeremiah’s message seemed contradictory. To focus on opposites like judgment and hope, grief and rebirth, doom and redemption. His name in Hebrew means both "Yahweh Exalts" and "Yahweh Throws Down." Through Jeremiah, God would throw down man’s rebellion and hold up God’s truth. Captivity in Babylon was from standpoint of mercy. Sins of Israel were so terrible they could have caused complete destruction. But for God’s mercy, Jeremiah wrote, they would have been consumed. He wrote, “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for salvation of the Lord.”
Jeremiah 31: 31-34, "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make new covenant with house of Israel and with house of Judah. It will not be like covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the Lord. “This is covenant I will make with Israel after that time, I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, they will be My people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know Me, from least to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and remember sins no more.”
Thieves broke into a jewelry store but didn't steal; they simply re-arranged price tags. The next morning, expensive jewelry was sold as junk, and costume jewelry was sold as expensive. We live in a world where someone re-arranged price tags. In our world, you must be beautiful by their formula. Youth commit crimes or dares just to prove they’re someone. Young girls get into destructive relationships because they’re told they are nothing if they do not follow world’s standards. But the gospel reveals you are loved!
You didn't do anything to earn it; God loved you before you were born! You are created, not a slug, paid for by His death and invited to live a new way with Him in His resurrection. You’re valuable because Jesus paid an infinite price for you, and it is only gospel of Jesus that tells us that. Paintings are valuable because of the artist who made them. Imagine what some museum would say you are worth if you could show the signature of God on you, Who signed you and me with His life. Life changes as you understand the value God places on you! God tells us through Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I had a plan for you.” In Jesus we find the only true foundation for our lives.
SONG: CHARIOTS OF FIRE