年少的時候耶利米就聽到上帝呼召，起先他不願答應（耶1：6），但還是接受了只有年高德劭的人才能承擔的任務－－成為上帝的先知，勸誡頑梗悖逆的猶大國。正如以前上帝重用的先知一樣，耶利米要對這些悖逆不信的百姓宣講審判的信息；但與其他先賢不同的是，耶利米警告猶大，這是他們最後的機會，其信息包括上帝嚴厲的最後通牒：「回轉向我，否則滅亡。」這時猶大站在十字路口舉棋不定，對先知這次永恆結局的警告竟毫不在意。

        在離開地面幾英呎高的地方，拿著個網球，然後放手，看看結果怎麼樣？球會掉到地板上，反彈好幾次呢？或是慢慢的飄向天花板呢？
        除非你住在水裡或者外太空，否則這個網球一定是往下落的，所依據的是一條極精密的物理定律：地心引力。每一天你都活在這條定律的影響之下，任何一個曾經滑進浴缸的人，都可證明這個不可避免的結果，即使是一個意外的違例也不行。
        正如有許多物理定律在管理這個物質的宇宙一樣，上帝也設定了屬靈與道德的定律來掌管你和祂之間的關係，如果漠視這些定律，結果就會像忽略上帝的物理定律那般嚴重，上帝的子民在耶利米時代所歷經的種種困難，正是你今天免蹈覆轍的前車之鑑！
        找一本小筆記本，在第一頁寫上：「從先知學功課」，這個月和下個月都要把它和聖經放在一起，每學到一種，不論是你不想犯的錯，或是需要提高警覺的，都記在小筆記上。

任重道遠的先知－－耶利米
        「耶利米」在希伯來文的意義是「投入」，事實上耶利米真的被上帝投入猶大最黑暗慘澹的時代中，在他的服事尚未結束之前，耶利米隱忍著迫害、審判和無數的眼淚，然而因為他的蒙召是那樣的真實（耶1：4，5），所以耶利米奉獻的心志始終如一，未曾動搖！

人的一生只能活一次，過了此生就要面對審判。

English

        Called at a young age and at first reluctant to answer (1:6),Jeremiah undertakes the age-old function of being God's prophet lo wayward Judah. Like the great prophets before him, Jeremiah is told to pronounce judgment on those who have forsaken His way; but unlike his predecessors, Jeremiah will proclaim Judah's last chance. His message will contain God's bold ultimatum: "Turn back to Me, or face destruction. "Judah stands at the crossroads, and failure to heed the prophet's voice this time will have lasting consequences.

        Find a tennis ball and hold it several feet above the floor. Let go, and observe the result. Does the ball hit the floor and bounce, or does it float lazily to the ceiling?
        Unless you live underwater or in outer space, the ball will fall, obeying one of the strictest laws of physics: the law of gravity. You live each day under the influence of that law. And anyone who has ever slipped in a bathtub can attest to the unavoidable consequences of even an accidental violation.
        Just as there are laws of physics that govern the physical universe, so God has established spiritual and moral laws to govern your relationship with Him. Careless indifference to those laws brings consequences just as severe as does the disregard of God's physical laws. What God's people learned the hard way during Jeremiah's lifetime, you can learn the easy way from their sad example.
        Find a small notebook and title it, "My Profit from God's Prophets." Keep it by your Bible this month and next. Use it to record lessons that you don't want—or need—to learn the hard way!

Jeremiah, the Heavy-duty Prophet
        The Hebrew name Jeremiah means "thrown" or "hurled." And indeed Jeremiah was thrown by God into the churning torrent of some of Judah's most terrible times. Before his ministry was finished, he would endure prosecution, trial, and many tears. But because his calling was sure (1:4-5), Jeremiah's commitment never wavered.

You only go around once in life—and after that, the judgment.