Unaffiliated

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 13:25

This is your lot…because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies…

This verse is a part of a longer section where God explains His judgment on Israel.

There is a memorable scene from the classic movie “O Brother Where Art Thou,” where the three main characters, Everett, Delmar, and pick up a young black man named Tommy Johnson at a crossroads. He is carrying a guitar and after getting into the car with them he explains that the previous night he sold his soul to the devil so that he could learn to play guitar.

The character is based on a real-life blues musician named Tommy Johnson. Everett, who was sitting in the front of the car, turns around and says, “Well, ain't it a small world, spiritually speaking. Pete and Delmar just been baptized and saved. I guess I'm the only one that remains unaffiliated."

It is a funny line. And what it conveys is how a lot of people think. Most people believe they can reject God and live their lives on neutral ground, spiritually speaking. They believe they can “remain unaffiliated.”

When we look at this text we see that those whom God describes as having forgotten Him didn’t simply forget God and that was the end of the story. The conjunction “and” tells the rest of the story. “They trusted in lies.” If you reject the Truth (this is what Jesus called himself in John 6) you turn to lies.

You don’t “ride the fence” when it comes to Christ. You are either for or against Him.

o brother where art thou