“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Jeremiah 31:3 (RSV)
The prophet Jeremiah wrote his book, trying to stir the hearts of his people to return to God, but instead, he suffered arrest, imprisonment and public disgrace. His nation was in a crisis and he was called to prophesy under very trying circumstances, and since it brought him so often to tears, he was known as the “weeping prophet.”
Jeremiah’s writings and influence over his community was much greater after his death, rather than before. When his people suffered by being exiled, they began to read and appreciate his writings much more after he was gone. Some of the most hope filled and beautiful verses of scripture come from this weeping prophet, and his tears bore fruit later on.
God told Jeremiah that He loves us with an everlasting love. He also tells us that He, the almighty God, will always continue His faithfulness to us. How is that possible? We don’t deserve such love and faithfulness, but God sees great worth and value in each one of us, even when we cannot see it in ourselves.
It reminds me of what Jesus said in Revelation to one of the churches, “Your last works are greater than the first.” (Revelation 2:19)
Sometimes, God speaks to us for years in quiet, subtle ways, but it doesn’t register within our soul until much later in our lives.
Our last works are where we are at today in our present state. There are people who have previously been apathetic or lukewarm in devotion to Jesus, but recently renewed their commitment to Him, meaning that their last works are greater than their first.
Other people have come a long way, after having worked, served, loved, and believed in Jesus, throughout the years. They have suffered many trials, but through it all, God has produced a divine endurance within them. Because of this, their last works are greater than their first.
Wherever we are at, whether long time followers or recently committed believers in Jesus, we all equally receive God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, which is remarkably unchanging. We expect that we are to be faithful to Him, yet God says that He is continually faithful to us.
This scripture revealed to the weeping prophet, tells us how highly valued we are in God’s eyes. He says that He loves us with an everlasting love. We never did one thing to earn that love, it is totally unconditional.
No wonder Jeremiah wept so much.
If we could fully understand how much worth and value God sees in each one of us, we would probably collapse on the floor, overwhelmed in awe and weep like Jeremiah.
The only things that keep us from knowing the truth of God’s love and faithfulness is either pride or self hatred. According to a minister who counsels hundreds of depressed people, he concluded that pride and self hatred are fraternal twins, which coexist and trap people, while they fluctuate between the two.
Jesus, however, is a chain breaker, and He breaks through all the lies of self hatred and pride which entrap so many people. Knowing we are all sinners, helps to humble the proud, and knowing how much God loves us, lifts us above all self hatred.
His love sets all the captives free from both pride and self hatred. He loves us because He sees our worth and our value in ways that no other human person on earth will ever see us. He would love for us to return that love to Him and to others.
Lord, thank you for how much you love us, and remain faithful to us, all because you see great worth in us. May our current and last works always be greater than our first, by loving you with all our heart, soul mind and strength. Amen