Hope and a good future

Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV)

“I know what I am planning for you”, declares the Lord, “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you.  I will give you hope and a good future.”

This is my wife’s favorite life verse of the Bible.  When I delivered the homily at my daughter’s wedding in Seattle (5 years ago today) I had to work this into my message (and, of course, it’s a great verse to use in a wedding ceremony).

One problem with a verse like this is that it can be misused and taken out of context.  Some pastors preach the “prosperity Bible” and use this verse to prove their point.   

Jeremiah 29 is written to Israelites who had been exiled to Babylon (Iraq) by King Nebuchadnezzer.  Not all Israelites were exiled as Jeremiah was one who remained in Jerusalem.  False prophets in Babylon and Jerusalem were claiming that God would break the power of Nebuchadnezzer and send the captives back to Jerusalem very shortly and that they would prosper.  Jeremiah refuted this false teaching, telling them to try to live normal lives in Babylon.

The Hebrew word used for “good plans” in the NCV translation (“prosper’ in other translations) is the familiar word “shalom”.  Shalom means peace, not economic prosperity.  The connotation of this verse is that God plans for people living in Babylon to live in peace and have good relationships with one another and with Him.

How does this verse apply to you today?  It promises you that God has a purpose for you, that He wishes to draw you to Himself, to remain in close relationship with you.   Because of His love and concern for you, you do not need to fear or worry about anything because He plans for you a future and a hope.  His definition of shalom may be found in verses 12-14.  He promises His children that your trials have a purpose that will be found by seeking Him.  And even though these promises are written to exiles in Babylon, Christians can be viewed as exiles in this world.  I Peter 2:11 describes Christians as ‘aliens and strangers’ in this world so this verse applies to Christians just as much as it applied to Jewish exiles in Babylon. 

List what you believe right now are God’s plans for you that give you hope and a good future.  Applying the faith and works principle, what can you do to live and work alongside the Lord to enable you to have hope and a good future?