“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seek the truth, I will forgive this city” (Jeremiah 5:1).
“If you can find but ONE PERSON who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this CITY!!!”
Wow! Wow! Wow!
During the days of Jeremiah, things were not looking good for the Jews. The ten northern tribes of Israel had already been defeated and sent into exile by the Assyrians. For the remaining two souther tribes, things were not looking good. You would think that the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin would have learned their lesson from seeing what happened to the northern ten tribes.
The northern tribes thought they could reject God and live like the other nations. They would make deals with Egypt and worldly leaders to protect them against the Assyrians who were conquering the world. Instead of learning from the misplaced trust of the northern tribes, Judah and Benjamin were copying their game plan!
It was in that context God declared, “If you can find but ONE PERSON who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this CITY!!!”
Two things.
First, Jerusalem and the southern tribes would be utterly defeated. The Temple destroyed. The people and their king utterly humiliated and taken into exile to Babylon. What did God say to the people in Jerusalem? If there is just ONE PERSON. The sad reality is that there were none to be found.
Wow. That’s sad.
Second, look at what just one faithful person can do! One faithful person has the capacity to save the entire city!!! So, what would an entire church filled with faithful people accomplish for the kingdom of God in this city? Can you just imagine!
Let’s do this Little Church! Let’s do this Lakewood Grace!
Praxis: Faith in Action 