Jeremiah 7 sermon application

By definition, trajectories determine destinations. The path something sets out on determines which way it will go, and where it will end up.

Un-manned space-craft are launched into the solar system, controlled completely by pre-programmed directions and velocities. These settings determine whether the rocket will end up at Neptune... or at Pluto.

Commercial planes are set to fly by auto-pilot. A button here, a co-ordinate change there, a destination is set.

Even performing wheel-alignments on our cars ensures that our car wheels exactly follow the direction set by the steering wheel.

By definition, trajectories determine destinations.

What is your trajectory? What is your destination?

Israel was a people called and chosen by the LORD, a people chosen to be His very own, chosen to live holy lives, chosen to glorify Him. In other words, they were chosen for a trajectory.

God showed them their true North, promised them a wonderful destination, and taught them how to set their trajectory. Ruthless, daily, diligent obedience. Obedience to God’s law would bring them nothing but blessing, but disobedience would bring curse. The choice was simple.

But complacency set in. And complacency brought deviation. And by definition, deviation changes destination.

Just as even one degree from North is no longer North, so even small deviations from obedience … are no longer obedience. In their complacency, God’s people strayed, even exchanging God’s good gifts for God Himself. By degrees, their actions changed, then their attitudes, until finally, their very hearts were hardened. Their destination was no longer God Himself, but idols, and judgement.

What is your trajectory? What is your destination?

Just like for Israel, God shows us our true North. God promises us a wonderful destination. God teaches us how to set our trajectories. Just like for Israel, our trajectory is set by ruthless, daily, diligent obedience to God’s Word. Just like Israel, we become complacent. Just like Israel, we deviate and just like Israel, our destination changes.

Just like Israel, we deviate so cleverly. The Temple of the LORD! The Temple of the LORD! The Temple of the LORD!

I come to church on Sunday! I put money in the offering bag! I tell people about Jesus!

But meanwhile our hearts harden against God, against obedience.

We love ourselves more than we love others. We lust. We slander. We gossip. We are greedy, selfish, proud, rude. We are quick to anger, slow to be gracious.

We neglect justice and compassion.

Our parents’ approval matters more to us than that of Jesus.

Our work is our kingdom, our investments our king.

We let our children be mastered by their desires rather than by God.

We love the world by neglecting the Word.

And believing ourselves righteous, we have no sin to confess, and nothing to change. Believing ourselves righteous, we fall under God’s judgement.

What is your trajectory? What is your destination?

Through the words of the prophet, God called Israel to repentance. Through the words of the apostle, God calls us to repentance.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

What is your trajectory? What is your destination?