Crisis ConvertedSample

Theme: Eternity

Crisis Converted Then:

The eternal voice of God calls out to the exiled people. Though there are many places where God calls the Israelites out of exile and back to the Promised Land, this is not one of those texts. In this passage, God comes to his people in their exile. The road is prepared for the conquering king to come and retake his people. Surely, it seemed to the people like it had been too long, but the prophet reminded them that they are fleeting like summer grass, but God is eternal in glory and word. The Israelites need to remember that God has eternal plans that span far beyond the status of a single generation's plight.

Crisis Converted Now:

Our life is fleeting as well. So often we think of the world and its history only in the context of our life, as if the grand plans of God have centered entirely around my personal experience. This is especially true in times of trauma. It is not unusual to hear, “things are the worst they’ve ever been.” Yet, God’s plans are eternal. Ours get mowed down like summer grass. Think about the plans in your life right now. Compare and contrast your plans with God’s eternal plan. How are they different? How are they similar?