SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 32
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’ “I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver. I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales. [Jeremiah 32:8-10]
Jeremiah has predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, the exile of the nation; he has even encouraged people to work hard for Babylon while there.
And yet he buys land in Jerusalem – what a foolish real estate investment?
Or is it?
This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. [Jeremiah 32:42]

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” [John 11:23-26]
Do I believe that this season of suffering and death is only short term, that one day we will rise again?
Are we willing to invest in that future, rather than just living for today?
Jesus asks Martha whether she really believes it; Jeremiah proves that he believes it by buying the land – confident that one day he will build a home there again.

When we face suffering or death, do we only focus on them or do we also look ahead to God’s promised restoration and blessing?
Do we grieve like people who have no hope – Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. [1 Thessalonians 4:13]
I am reminded of the story of the lady who wanted a dessert fork included in her casket, with the instruction to the pastor to say to anyone who asked – as a child, the dessert fork at the supper table was a always a reminder that the best was still to come!
If this life is all there is, then ‘eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die’.
But if we hope for a better tomorrow, we can invest ourselves today for that better tomorrow – using our wealth not for personal pleasure but for blessing God and others.
Blessing people today is investing in a rich welcome when we die.
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. [Luke 16:9]
People, not land, is what we should invest in, if we believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, if we believe in everlasting life!
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? [1 Thessalonians 2:19]

PRAYER:
Lord, sometimes I get so wrapped up in this life that I forget the greater life to come. Help me to invest in that future!!!