They have lied about the Lord

Jeremiah 5:12-31

What is a delusion? I had great difficulty when I did my psychology rotations in medical school with otherwise normal patients who had delusions. A delusion is a false belief that is firmly held to be true, even in the face of evidence of its falsehood. Most of us will have some false beliefs in our lives, but the difference is that we will change our minds once evidence is presented to the contrary.

In this world, the secular media and prevailing worldview suggests that Christians are deluded into believing in God. We hold to a false belief, we are told. There is strong evidence for atheism, we are told. Anyone who believes in an exclusive way to God is a fool, we are told. We are pitied for our “ignorance” and bullied for our “intolerance”. However, when we want to engage in a genuine discussion of h the evidence, the pluralists and atheists (strange bedfellows they may be) only respond with polemic.

Jeremiah’s days in ancient Judah reveal a similar pattern of ridiculing the people of God and God Himself. The prevailing worldview was pluralism and seeking after any and all gods. Prosperity had brought about the delusion that man had achieved success n his own.

1. God says his people had lied about God (5:12). They had lied to themselves. There were people who were deluded and people who deliberately lied to others. Do we not see the same pattern today? We need to identify who is genuinely seeking God and deluded by the world. These are those we must share the gospel with. As for those who deliberately lie or are argumentative, we should leave them alone, especially if they claims to be Christian leaders (Titus 3:10), because the word is not in them (Jer 5:13)
2. What people trust in will be destroyed (5:14-17). In Jeremiah’s day, it was dramatic. Violence came form the north and their idyllic life was shattered. Today, the idyllic life in the west has fallen short. The society which has everything has produced the largest pool of mental health patients ever. Psychiatric medicines like SSRI’s have overtaken painkillers as the most prescribed drugs. Teen suicides have burgeoned. What or who are we trusting in today? Money? Our nation? Our leaders? Leaders can mislead (Jer 5: 26). Our spouse? None will satisfy, and none will protect. Apart from the true God, revealed in Jesus Christ, everything else will be destroyed. Trust Jesus today.
3. God gives second chances (5:18-19). The word “nevertheless” is comforting. Jeremiah tells the people that God will no make a “complete end” of them. Jesus came for just that purpose. Man may be deluded in his sin and unable to know God or experience His grace (Romans 3:23). Sin is not necessarily doing bad things. It is a disposition of the heart that rejects God and places trust in other things, as noted above. God is waiting to help us through life, whatever our circumstance. We are called to trust Him.

If only the people of God had trusted Him all those years ago. We are going down the same path. Are we going to do something about it? Maybe we can start in our homes and local community?