A Promise is a Promise

Jeremiah 29:11


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

When my girlfriend quoted this verse to me, I was completely taken aback. It really shook me to have it so plainly delineated for me...God knows me AND has a plan for me. God, who made the heavens and the earth and more importantly...bacon, could sit down over tea and give a complete run down of my life, what has passed and what's in the playbook still to come. He knows that I sometimes get so scared by the evil that I want to hide in a shoe box, and He knows that I am often so hardheaded that the only way to keep me on the path is with a good swift kick to my backside. He has this aerial view of my path on the big map of life. He knows which right hand turn will lead to joy and which Michigan left will take me to despair. I was so comforted and then electrified by it. I felt like I had stumbled onto some "fountain of peace". But, of course, being the border line spaz that I am, I reveled in my new found treasure for a day or so and then moved on to fall TV premier season. A couple months later (yep...it took that long), I asked her about it... "Hey, remember that verse you told me about. It was in one of those books like Nahum or Habakkuk." She laughed and told me I would need to give her a bit more. I said "All I remember is that God has a plan for me for the future". Ah yes, she said:

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Again I was struck dumb (more difficult than one would hope). I shivered at the omnipotence and omniscience of my God. I couldn't wait to show Russ and tell everyone I know (even the guy at the market...he didn't seem quite as "electrified"). When I looked up the verse online to copy and paste on my FB page, I saw all these links, and because I am at times deluded into thinking that I must know everything about everything, I spent hours scanning the links and soaking up what amounted to a lot of disagreement. In a nut shell: Does this verse have any relevance/promise to us as Christians today, or is it merely part of a historical account regarding the Jews that were exiled and living under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzer?

With every click of my mouse, I felt a little more deflated. Had I made the classic mistake of taking the Bible out of context to satisfy and justify my own thoughts and feelings? I mean, I have a lot of respect for people of knowledge (especially since I am not exactly cut out for higher learning...which is why my college English prof thought I was absent so much I must have mono), but I also know that too much "book learnin'" can dull a body's ability to go from the gut and discern with the heart. So which was true? I had to know.

What I know is this...that while this is an account of history, God has a purpose for every jot and dot that the Holy Spirit inspired man to write. The Old Testament is an account of history, sure, but it is also rife with truth and promise...that's why God included it and didn't just wait and inspire the New Testament. I know that we as God's people are all exiles in the world. Meant to make our homes, lead full lives and enjoy, revel and prosper in the time that we have here, even if it is but for a moment. I know that God knows that those inspired, living words would, on October 8th, 2009 give Andrea Dodge comfort and empower her to lead a more God centered life so she can stay on the path. That she would know that even though she basically stinks at the big picture, she can take comfort knowing that God has her covered. He has plans for her and hers that reach 70 plus years into the future... plans full of hope, plans that will prosper (though maybe not through a winning lotto ticket ,but through peace and wholeness) and not harm. And if I had any more doubts or reservations, all I needed was a little chat with my Dad. My Dad , who is the most practical and real-life Christian (not to mention full-on guido dude) I have ever met. I asked , "Did he think that that verse was just a historical account that shouldn't be taken as a promise?" To which he replied, "What a load of crap....Of course God meant if for us...geesh."

Well, there you have it folks....