Jeremiah 29:10-15 KJV
10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
15 Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;

As the teenage girl screams you don't understand momma, I just got to fit in and go to the party of the century with those kids or I will not belong to their group. Mother is thinking I know those type of kids, you do not belong with them not because you are better then them, but you do not need to be defiled by those drugs and alcohol that scene will provide for you. And though you might be involved in anything corrupt you still will have the temptation you are not ready to handle yet. My desire for your life is one of success, hard work, and happiness. To enjoy life and to grow up strong and wise in all decisions you will face. Part of saying no will help prepare you for those choices in life.

Think for a moment despite what momma trying to teach the rebellious teen, the results will either be she angry at momma, or disappointed that momma does not trust her enough to let her go. Unfortunately teens seldom know fully what best for themselves, despite they feel they know their friends enough to not be pressured by them to do what they think they will not. In truth sin in general is like that. I was flipping on facebook through a woman and man biography page so to speak after a murder I heard about that had occured. The pictures were beautiful it did not tell the horror of events to transpire in their life and only news story gave a small glimpse of what occured. The masking of sin is a reality not a trait of good working americans right. No think again. Social media might be fun, but it also does not reveal the whole truth about someone. Do we trust what we see.

The world in Jeremiah day is in chaos, the exile is going to happen, it does not matter at what point it is clear it will happen. Yet in the middle of Jeremiah God says do you want to know what I think of you Israel I will tell you what my thoughts are for you. Right in the middle of talking about destruction God is saying I going to let Israel, Israel will be exiled because this is for a purpose, to teach Israel a lesson about my desire for Israel and the world's desire for Israel. The ways of Babylon is the the ways of destruction. The ways of the world lead to destruction. I will admit not everything of our world seems evil. Some of it seems like it being over rated both by God and by believers. Give you example it when their is evidence of destruction from those that seem good. A good comedian tells some great jokes that are repeatable, only to fine that good comedian life is one of discord and chaos. His life on the road of destruction. Will we think those jokes repeated has no destruction in the words. Yet in truth the further you follow into his comic routine you find that what you heard was tone down for gentle folks of the world because it is truly a money racket. One is caught off guard when the reality how many babies coming up going off to college never thinking about it, but hears the name of comedian being in town and say lets go to the show, and the naive young person says sure, his mom and dad likes that comedian. To only be shocked by what the comedian says. Without talking to mom and dad about it assumes that the behavior of the comedian is okay to repeat as an adult. The road becomes a rocky step in to a world in which he or she does not want in. Sounds stupid, sounds like one should know right and wrong but in reality we follow what we hear is okay without knowledge. Rock concert the music sounds okay but is those singing really okay to spend time with. A girl or group invited to see the rock stars bus and to join the party to the next location. What are parents not warning their kids about when hearing things in our world.

God saying his thoughts of his people are not the life of being in exile but in Israel in prosperity. Inticement in the world around us might not be so clean cut and churchify and how we react in that world may not be who we are in Christ. God knew when he allowed the exile to happen that his people even his people of hope would do things not of his will. That some would be enticed but what looked okay on the outside but in the center of it was pure evil and destruction.

God's thoughts of his people is thoughts of peace and not evil that they will come to the end, repent and seek him. How far in the gutter of life do you have to go before you seek God. Do you have to fall in the sewer itself or is the gutter enough to get you to the place you seek God. Is the rock concert music enough to only wet your lips or do you need the bus to know you did not belong on the ride. You can be living a Christian life and find yourself looking at world choices as it really not that bad only to cause another to fall because they went into the sewer and not just the gutter. There so much in our world to enjoy without ever getting into the gutter of evil. Christians getting together to do the things they enjoy besides praising God. Yet something has to be learned and taught to new believers. Old believers have to remind themselves of their own imperfections at times to know when actions don't line up it okay, because people are learning to walk with God and trying to walk and not stumble there is a difference.

King Ahab was part of the downfall of Israel and Queen Jezebel and her prophets of Baal. Yet more kings followed in the life of these two that cause Israel to sin because of the example set before them. People follow the gold in front of them. The people with riches and not always glory. There evil becomes clear with time or with closeness to the power of evil. The royal robes and the nice suit and ties, and fancy dress are just covering for what hidden at the heart of a person. It in all walks of life. No one is exempt from humanity. The human reaction is often not expected especially when things seem okay.

God is allowing Israel to walk into the path of destruction. He allowing them their choice which lead to being exiled. He did not place them into captivity he allowed them to be lead into captivity. Along the way of the path of destruction he gave warning through prophets, ministers and teachers of his choosing and calling. Jeremiah was called to preach in perilous times, and yet he was very protective in many ways through his journey in life because he obeyed God. Even the heathen of Babylon treated him well. Why they liked what he preached against Israel perhap, because they seen their own evil prospering. Obedience to God does not mean you never stand in sewer or in the gutters of life, it means you not tainted by it because of your obedience to God.

A young adult goes to the party to socialize but does not intake of anything that harmful to his/her body. When the party starts to get really going the young adult tries and take a few friends out of the situation if they want to go, leaving the party early. Being in the thick of it but not remaining. God was leaving his people in their desires and having them removed from holy ground, to be among the people of darkedness of evil. God hope the people would realize God's thoughts were for them to prosper, that they put themselves into the gutter and sewer when they did not trust him or desire his ways. He hoped they would desire his ways more then their own and more then the other side of the street.

There is a point if you facing a path of destruction bow to God, his mercy his greater then your sin. His ways are not of destruction. Yes he has destroyed the earth with a flood but it was because of the conruption of man and their desire for evil continually. His destruction coming one more time on the earth and heaven in the form of fire. His pathway designed for a new heaven and new earth but He taking old souls that already designed and created for prosperity in his kingdom. You can be part of his pathway of hope or part of his pathway of eternal destruction. It is your choice, but the fire of eternity is very hot and meant fully for destruction.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for desiring us to have peace, give us the hope of prosperity in our life because of your word and our choice to follow you. Help us to live not in the gutter of life but in the prosperity of your will. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Psalm 35:27-28 KJV
27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.