James and Jeremiah

Last night before bed, I read Jeremiah 5:10-31. It was rather unsettling. It definitely showed me that I have much to work on before I even begin planning my journey. I learned that it isn't my plan, first of all, that I can rely on. My youth group has been going through the book of James now for almost over a year. This small book, isn't small at all.
It tells us that
"'Today--at the latest, tomorrow--we are off to such and such a city for the year...'" You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You are nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sunlight before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit by saying, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that." James 13-15
It goes on to tell us that if we even know the right thing but do not do it, then it is sin. We don't even have to be doing anything wrong. If we don't do the right thing, and do nothing at all-- it is sin.
James wrote this letter to the early churches, the newer christians. They all came together under one central belief, that Jesus was their soveriegn Lord, and God was his father. James is explaining and reprimanding the early believers---Believing the right things about God is not enough; even demons believe in God. James urges us to be not merely listeners of the word, but doers of the word. He illustrates this with a man looking at himself in a mirror, walking away, and a few minutes later have no idea who they are or what they look like.
Faith in Jesus should bring about radical life change. Real faith should put you in motion, not waiting for the go-ahead and such.
I'm just now beginning to grasp that. I think I know something, but then I'm completely proven wrong: that isn't a good thing. I need to begin preparing now, not later. I can't wait until camp, until college, until Costa Rica: I need to start NOW. I believe that God has really been harping that into my skull over the last few weeks.
Well anyway, Jeremiah 5:10-31 is a warning, I believe, to the people of the church. We are called scatterbrains, and airheads in a manner of speaking. God tells us we have eyes that see but do not truly look, and ears that hear but do not truly listen. It is a warning against the sin in our lives. God is kind, but he is not soft. He tells us that our sin is what blinds us from the glory of God. The more we wander from Him, the more we sin, disobey and justify ourselves, the further we get from God.
Also, God warns that He is taking serious measures against this people. He harshly reprimands us for our sin, warns those with no conscience: right and wrong mean nothing to them. They stand for NOTHING and stand up for NO ONE but themselves, and it goes further:
"...throw orphans to the wolves, exploit the poor."
Have we truly become this bad? I believe in a sense, we have. The world has gone insane.
Even now, I'm feeling a heavy heart. Guilty, because I am.
Have a good day, and don't forget: doers of the word.