Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:5-8
Do you remember Paul’s great words, which he spoke when he was on trial before Festus the Roman governor and King Agrippa? Agrippa said to him, “Paul, do you think you can make me a christian as easily as that?” And Paul replied with one of the most immortal words even Paul ever said, “I would that thou and all that hear me this day, were almost and altogether as I am, except these bonds.” What’s he saying? He’s saying this. Here is a man, a prisoner, standing with chains hanging from his wrists and he looks to a king and his consorts. He looks there to this Roman governor and his wife. There they are in their gorgeous robes, seated upon their thrones and here stands a prisoner in front of them in chains and he says, “I would to God that YOU were as I am!”
Is he a raving lunatic? No. He’s a very sane man. And he meant every word of what he said. Paul knew that he was happier in prison than those people were on their thrones. They were dependent upon circumstances and conditions. He wasn’t. He was a man who was absolutely independent. Independent of prison bars and cells. Independent of insults. Independent of everything. He’s been detached! He’s living a life apart. He sees everything in a new way. Well, listen to him expounding it himself in his epistle to the Philippians. “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound.” If I’m unemployed, I’m alright. If I’m employed, I’m still alright. If all my money is gone, I’m alright. If I have a super-abundance, I’m still alright. If I’m healthy, I’m alright. If I’m ill, I’m still alright. If I have a thorn in the flesh, what about that? Well, he didn’t quite understand it at first. He prayed God three times to take it away and God didn’t. And then he saw it. And he was enabled to say, “when I am weak, then am I strong.” God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” And Paul replied saying, “Thank you, I see it is. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I prefer to be weak that thy glory may be manifested. Rather than strong in my own name and in my own glory, I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!” That’s christianity my friends. That’s the christian life!
Though heat comes, his leaf is still green. He’s independent of circumstances. Whatever comes, it doesn’t matter! He’s alright. He’s got this source of supply, which is from Christ. And it works out like this you see. The christian a man who’s been given this new understanding. He’s come to see that what matters supremely is his soul; that which belongs to God, that immaterial, that invisible part of himself. He says the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal. These are my sense of values he says. I see things differently and therefore he rides very loosely to this world and its things. Far from depending on them, he has become independent of them. He’s emancipated! He’s like the tree by the waters, with the roots stretching into the river, so that the heat doesn’t matter. He’s even able to meet the future without anxiety or care, “and shall not be careful in the year of drought.”
Drought comes doesn’t it, at times? And it’s bound to come to all of us. There are seasons of drought sometimes in spiritual experience and sometimes because of circumstances, but this man doesn’t fear. He says the Lord is my helper. I shall not fear what men shall do unto me. And the secret is this. His confidence isn’t in himself. It’s in God. So that whatever may come, he’s not afraid. Of course, if he relied upon himself, he’d have very good reason for forebodings and fears of the future. He would say to himself, “Well what if a war does come, what shall I do?! What if this bomb is used, what shall I do then?! What if this takes place and that?!” And he doesn’t trust himself. But you see, the christian is a man who trust God. And there he’s always safe — for this reason. He knows that whatever changes may take place in life, there will never be any change in God. Life does change. “Change and decay all around I see. O thou who changest not, abide with me.” That’s his secret. He knows that as for himself, he may become weary and tired and ill and diseased, and his powers will wax and wane, and he won’t know where he is. But he knows that God will never be tired. The eternal will never be weary. Time writes no wrinkle on the brow of God.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Listen to the entire Audio Sermon: https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons-online/jeremiah-17-5-8/a-life-in-christ-2/
