11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11NIV
When I was a kid, I had a teacher, at a Christian school, once tell me that God doesn’t desire to save everyone. Some people He created simply for Hell because He didn’t want them. When I quoted Jeremiah 29:11, she said that that verse is only for the exiled Jews. She then refused to let me respond and just continued speaking over me.
But I want you to think about this for a second Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Therefore, that teacher wasn’t just wrong but blasphemous as she told such a bold-face lie on God. So, then is Jeremiah 29:11 also for us today? Yes, of course it is. Does God not have plans for us? Does He not want to prosper us? Does He not want to withhold harm from us? Does He not have plans to give us hope and a future? Of course He does. These are our promises as well.
Yes, they were spoken to the people of Judah when they went into the Babylonian exile, but we, as God’s people, can claim them as well because no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalms 84:11b).
In his message from God, Peter assured us that God does not show partiality to any people, what He has for one, He has for all. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither male nor female when it comes to God’s great promises, and access to Him (Colossians 3:11). We are all the same. With the same opportunities. The same blessings. The same plans. There is no: This is for one but not the other.
The Jews were under the same erroneous understanding. They thought that salvation was only for the Jews, and God’s great promises were for them alone, since the promises were given to them. Paul also corrected that misunderstanding when he iterated the very same thing in Romans 2:11. Listen to me, God loves us. He wants what’s best for us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. God is our defender and our provider. We all have a call and plan for our lives. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Hold Fast To His Plans.