“The days are surely coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a NEW covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more”. And with the resurrection of Jesus, those days have arrived! Through the righteous branch of David, Jesus Christ, God has restored his relationship with his people. He has sent his son to pay the price for his people's sins, so that forgiveness is a gift, one for which his people can be grateful. He has sent his son to place his law in his people's hearts, AND to fulfil the law, so that in following him, his people can be obedient. He has sent his son to teach, and explain, and show God's character, so that ALL his people can know him. And he has raised his son from the dead so that his people can see an end to the exile of this earthly life, and look forward to a future with hope.
As followers of Jesus, we cling to this new covenant – the covenant Jesus affirmed in his own blood at the Last Supper. As followers of Jesus, we celebrate his reign in our lives as the eternal descendant of David, as unshakable as day and night. As followers of Jesus, we ARE God's people, and He IS our God. And as followers of Jesus, we faithfully complete the appointed time left until his return, attempting to seek the welfare of the planet we're sitting on, and holding on to the amazing hope of the end of exile - going home.
Gracious God, keep us faithful to your son, and remind us that our grace cost him his life. Help us to endure and learn from the events of our life, until by your call, our exile from your heavenly home is over, in Jesus' name, amen.