Jeremiah 42:14
“Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:”
The remnant that was left in Judah came to Jeremiah to ask him to get advice from God as to what they should do.
They feared that the King of Babylon would come and kill them, and they felt that if they migrated to Egypt that they would be safe from the sword. God returned word to these people through Jeremiah that they were to stay in the land. God said that they would be safe as long as they stayed put.
The sad part about this story is that they didn't listen to Jeremiah; instead, they went to the land of Egypt where they thought they would “see no war.” The land where they thought they would be safe was the very land where they lost their lives. It was the very land where their children were taken captive and some were killed. Had these people stayed where God told them to stay, they would have enjoyed living in peace for the rest of their lives. Had these people stayed, they would have enjoyed seeing their children grow old and their grandchildren grow up. What they thought was a land of peace became a land of heartache, turmoil and death.
Christian, the world always seems peaceful from the outside. When you are facing battles in the Christian life, it always looks like the world is a peaceful place to enjoy life. What you don't see is that the world is not a land of peace, but it is a land of turmoil and death. It may seem to you that you can change a little and avoid the battles that you have faced in the Christian life, but you will eventually discover that the world only delivers turmoil, heartache and death.
I have been a part of the independent, fundamental Baptist world my entire life. I truly understand how tiring the battles can become. Let me assure you that going to the world is not the answer. I have watched many young people go to the world because they were tired of all the battles they experienced growing up. I am old enough now to see the end of what is becoming of those who left the independent, fundamental Baptist world. The end is parents whose children are breaking their hearts. The end is children whose lives are a wreck. The end is marriages that are in shambles because their spouse was introduced to someone who didn't live by the same godly principles by which they lived.
Go ahead, move to what you perceive to be the land of peace, but I promise you that the land you think to be peaceful is filled with heartache, turmoil and death. Go ahead and miss church, let down your standards, run with the worldly friends and live the lifestyle you think is peaceful. I promise that you will find that choice to be regretted.
Friend, the world always looks enticing from the outside. Certainly, the battles you face to stand for truth can be tiring, but the world has their battles as well. I would rather choose to fight the battles for truth than to live in the turmoil the world brings. I have seen both sides. I have experienced the joy that fighting for truth brings, and I have observed the heartache that others endured and the marks of sin they lived with for their rest of their lives. As I observe both sides, I would gladly choose the battles for truth any day. Truth always gives the peace for which you are looking. Yes, there will be battles along the way, but there is no peace without battles.