I would like to begin with a challenge, if you are up to it? And even if you’re not willing to completely carry out my request, please play along with me for a few minutes. First, I would like you to go buy a sizable chunk of land over in the Middle East with your own savings. I will even let you choose which country, but it must be in one of the places where ISIS is making headway or where Russia is seeking to extend its military influence. As a second part of the challenge, I would like you to buy enough land so as to place yourself in a financial constraint. What I mean is that you must have no source of extra income beyond what it takes to survive day to day, and the results being that when you purchase the property, it will exhaust you’re financial stability. Now third, write down on a piece of paper all the reasons why my request is absurd and that only a fool would follow thru with these instructions. Please take this seriously, and literally contemplate all the reasons of my apparent insanity for proposing such a challenge.
I believe that the stage is now set for us to make some headway into the realm of Christian discipleship. I am not referring to someone else’s process of discipleship. I am referring to your walk with God. Many folks read for informational facts and insights that bring wisdom and understanding in the service of others. But I firmly believe that you or I cannot truly help anyone else traverse the rugged terrain and deep waters of life until we have traveled or are traveling similar landscapes in our own lives. The Living God desires to shape your mental outlook and physical obedience for His Glory just as he did His people, prophets and disciples long ago. As Jesus said, Come! Follow Me! I will make you! Fishers of Men! Before we can fish for men, a disciple must be travel with Jesus and be molded and formed by His hands.
Please pick up your copy of the scriptures and read Jeremiah 32.
God appointed Jeremiah to be His spokesman and prophet to the people long before Jeremiah was even born. But Jeremiah was not only to give lip service; his life was to be an object lesson to Israel and the nations. The Word of the Lord thru Jeremiah demanded the purchase of Land just north of Jerusalem in his hometown of Anathoth. This demand at first glance does not seem too out of the ordinary, until the full panorama of all circumstances is brought into view.
The situation is as follows. The City of Jerusalem will fall within the current year to the Babylonians who have already taken over all the other cities of Israel. The Babylonians have surrounded Jerusalem and are in the process of building siege ramps against the city. The prophet Jeremiah is under suspicion of being a traitor, and therefore under house arrest, and confined to the courtyard of the guard at the palace of King Zedekiah. All this persecution because he is declaring the destruction of the nation by the Babylonians. Do you think that Jeremiah is in a prosperous financial position to be buying family property?
To be “In the Ministry” is not a badge of honor to be worn by the proud but is rather a demonstration of God’s overwhelming Lordship in a true disciple’s life. Therefore, Jeremiah buys the Field. Jeremiah has the transaction recorded on a scroll and sealed. Jeremiah proclaims in Word and Deed that God will restore the fortunes of Benjamin and Judah. Would you have bought the field? Well, let me ask a better question. Are you buying the field right now? God desires for His true ministers to be folks who show the greatness of God thru their very lives. As the old adage goes, don’t talk the talk, if you can’t walk the walk. Ministry is the role of God’s servants.
Let us be very honest with each other on an inner level. It is a neat story to read about being a martyr for Jesus and giving it all. But when it comes to you buying the field, what circumstances will probably be present when God wants you to give all. I think they will be much like Jeremiah’s or like the apostle Peter’s. In Acts chapter 3, Peter is heading to the temple when he comes thru the beautiful gate where the crippled has been placed to beg. Peter’s circumstances were such that he told the cripple there was no gold or silver to give him. I take Peter very literally and believe that he was poor and could only give from what he did have. Peter gave of the Kingdom of God within him. To buy the field is to give all. God never asks us to give more than we have. He only asks us to give all that we have, and trust him for the outcome. We are to be like the widow with her two mites who was held up in honor for giving more than all the rest combined because she gave out of her poverty. What do I have that is not from God’s Almighty Hand?
Even with Jeremiah’s poor physical situation, we see in chapter 32:17-25 the impetus for Jeremiah to follow thru with such obedient actions. Jeremiah tells us very clearly that nothing is too hard for God and that God rewards everyone according to what their deeds deserve. This sounds so much like Hebrews where we read how without faith it is impossible to please God and that those who come to Him must believe that He exists and is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him. Jeremiah had this kind of faith, and when I read about his faith, I am challenged and inspired regarding my own. Just how big and trustworthy is the God do you serve?
The Creator of the Heavens and Earth desires you and I to be His witnesses throughout the World. But even more importantly, He wants your life to be lived to the praise of the glory of His grace; right here and right now in the place he has you under arrest. Buy the Field!
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
