199. Turn and God will Bring
Jeremiah 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you : and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
This is a conditional promise: if you turn, then I will bring you to the Kingdom of God. Backsliders were once in the faith and in the kingdom, but sliding backward they are sliding out of the kingdom and abandoning the faith. The Lord says, “Look at where you are and where you are heading and turn around. Turn back to me. We were married and faithful once. Now come back to me.”
The Lord promises that He will bring returners to Zion. Zion is the kingdom of God, the Church, the faithful people of God. When we turn, or repent, the Lord takes hold of us and brings us all the way back to Himself. We need to hear and believe this promise of God to turn back to God where we belong. Turning = Repenting. We honestly admit we erred, made mistakes, did wrong, went astray, ignored the Lord who bought us, and just plain sinned. It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. True repentance includes faith in the mercy and goodness of God. When we repent and believe the Lord brings us all the way back.
Repentance and faith do not get us into the kingdom, Zion. God’s mercy does. God does the bringing; our turning simply gives up on the self and the mess that sin got us into. We put ourselves at God’s disposal: “Thy will be done on earth.” Then He brings us into the fold and there keeps us safe and comfortable. God, the Holy Spirit, preaches the Gospel to the heart and convinces it to turn. He turns us around by loving and promising kindness. Then He brings us back to the Lord.
If we turn (or, let the Lord turn us), then the Lord will bring us to Himself. This promise motivates us to let God turn and bring. This “turning” is not a once in a lifetime event. It is necessary daily and weekly. If left to ourselves alone we will backslide; if left up to the Lord He will turn us and bring us back. That’s a promise.