9730Babylon

In skimming through Bible verses about rest, I ran across this in Jeremiah 50:34: "Yet their redeemer is strong; the LORD Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon."

It reminded me of this sermon by Josh Mann a couple months ago. When he preached it, I remember sitting there and thinking, "How can this sermon so closely resemble my life?" What is off in my life that takes me to not good places? What do I keep doing that I can't change? Where am I living in Babylon?

For me, today, Babylon represents a place of captivity and bondage. A place of being stuck where we don't want to be. I believe this is what the Lord has been delivering me out of. He has miraculously moved me from a place of slave drivers and task masters, to a place of freedom and rest. This journey to find true rest has led me through deep waters, hard work, and rigorous soul searching - yet has brought me to a spacious place. A place of freedom and rest.

So, would I rather live in Babylon - because it's what I know and am comfortable with - or will I have the courage to change so that I can live in the land of rest. This verse says God will vigorously defend my cause, and that it is He who bring me rest. I have found that to be true.

Do you find yourself harried and frustrated? Do you find life is driving you mad? Do you feel like your days just fly by at such a pace that you can't even keep track of which way is up? Do you ever have to answer the question, "How are you?" with "I don't know?" Are you stuck in ways of doing life that you no longer want to do? Are there slave drivers in your head? Are you living in Babylon?

How do you get out? Let the Lord fight for you, and be expectant for the coming of His rest. It's not easy. It's counterintuitive. It may be hard to explain to people in your life. But it's worth the journey. Put on your backpack and join me - I'm on the road just outside of 9730Bablylon.

postscript: Sometimes this blog is a great tool, and sometimes a weak excuse for personal interaction. Just want you to know that I welcome conversation and connection regarding this topic or others. I love going out to Ike Box and chatting. I love to go for walks and talk. I enjoy visiting on the phone. And I increasingly love praying with people. So feel free to be in touch.