I Still Feel Jeremiah's Frustration Towards People

Every time I end up reading and studying Jeremiah, it seems to be that the theme of the book has already been said in Jeremiah 5:31 which says, "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" Just reading the statement, "and my people love to have it so" is so discouraging, it makes me want to tear my hair off because it means there's going to be a lot and I mean a lot of problems to expect when the truth is uncompromised. As much as my flesh wants to be popular but I can't be both popular with the world and faithful to Christ. I can't be right with sinful mankind and be right with God at the same time. In short, I must take my pick. Christians may first think they can have both but later, they'll just end up choosing to drop everything out of love for the LORD.

The situation is no different in today's world. Let's imagine this illustration is about two pastors. One pastor loves to tell comforting lies and look at the long line of people coming to him. The pastor who preaches the unpleasant truths is really a sad pastor. In a prophet's life, they are usually outcasts of their own country. It reminded me how Elijah even thought he was alone in 1 Kings 19 plus only 7,000 out of a huge nation didn't compromise with Baal worship. Jeremiah's life wasn't his best life now either. I can't imagine how Jeremiah must have felt having so little friends and so many enemies. Becoming a Christian has never been about living an easy life. On the contrary, Christianity walks the narrow road where it just gets more and more difficult. 

The problem that anybody who stands by God is this: the world is going to hate you for the wrong reasons. I wasn't all too surprised to find out that some Christians were even accused of crimes that they didn't commit. Jesus allowed Himself to be killed for crimes He didn't commit so He can fulfill His Father's task. As John 15:18-19 warns that the world hates the Christians as it hated Jesus. No, you can't say that if you become more like Jesus the world will love you. That's a lie straight from the pits of Hell! While Christians are told to do good works (Matthew 5:16) and to be good examples in a world gone wrong (Philippians 2:15) yet it's no guarantee that no one's ever going to reject the message.

Jesus being God Incarnate lived a perfect life. His humanity teaches Christians how to live their lives. He forgave His enemies. He put others before Himself. He put God the Father first place in His life. You can't deny He never did anything wrong. Don't believe for a second that just because you're doing right that you'll always be okay with the world. On the contrary, the more right you do, the more you should prepare to be persecuted. Worse, the world will be ready to nitpick on the Christians' sins while they hypocritically and continuously condone and readily accept the sins of their own. A Christian gets into an affair they get their pitchforks and torches while they hypocritically praise an infidel for his multiple affairs. Just think David was heckled after his affair with Bathsheba while wicked men still get praised for all the evil they do.

No matter how bad things may get and no matter how frustrated I get, God won't let me quit and He'll find a way to drag me back and convict me to repentance, restore me and make me do better. After all, it's God that works in me (Philippians 2:13). I can't take any credit whatsoever and for anything, I don't care if it's not me who gets the glory because I don't deserve it. Only God deserves the glory. Besides, Matthew 5:11-12 promises blessing through suffering and not blessing without suffering.