Jeremiah and Ezekiel lived in turbulent times. The Promised Land was under assault by the Babylonians who were plundering the land. Eventually even the Temple articles were looted and taken to Babylon. There were those false prophets who were proclaiming “peace, peace” when there was no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14, Ezekiel 13:16)
Everything around them in the land was in turmoil. It was God’s judgment against and refining of a people who had strayed far from being God’s People. They had allowed idolatry to infiltrate the temple and the priesthood. Created things were worshipped rather than the Creator and Redeemer Himself.
When God had enough of their treachery and disloyalty, He sold them for 70 years into captivity. When they returned from those 70 years, they were solidly Jehovah-centered. They were certainly smaller, never recovering their grandeur realized under Solomon, but they were refined by their God and held firmly to Him.
We are certainly living in turbulent times. The Church is trying to find her way during a very unpeaceful season and increasing opposition. Perhaps it is a time of refining for us. Will we be smaller, but more God-centered? Will we be refined so that any idolatry and heresy is removed from our midst?
I do not know, but I hope those who return to churches will be more on fire for God, more Bible-centered, more reliant on the Holy Spirit, more willing to pray for God’s will to be done.
Outside the church there is no peace. None. But as Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:15 as God’s people we are to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
I am praying that the Church experiences a great awakening. I am praying that even while the world has no peace, people will see the peace of Christ in the hearts of believers, and desire to have what we have.
