Month: June 2021 (Page 3 of 3)

The prophets of the Old Testament continually warned against false prophets.  In our day these are the voices that assure us that all will be fine with the direction of our nation, even as we disregard our Creator.  Listen to Jeremiah: “They have lied about the Lord; they said, ‘He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.  The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them” (Jer. 5:12-13). 

“The prophets are all windbags.  They speak nothing but nonsense” (Jer. 5:13 – Message).  These false prophets with their deceptive words were simply full of hot air.  It reminds me of the “talking heads” predicting good outcomes for following their counsels. They give the people a sense of false security.  “They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: you will have peace.’  And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you’” (Jer. 23:17).  This is what people want to hear.  

Jeremiah complained about these false prophets.  They were to blame for the apathy of the people.  “Oh, Sovereign Lord, look.  The prophets are telling them that you said, ‘You will not experience war or suffer famine.’ I will give you lasting peace and prosperity.”  (Jer. 14:13 NET).  The word for peace (shalom) “refers both to peace from war and security from famine and plague” (NET). 

The people were being conditioned to believe God will do nothing and not interfere in the affairs of the nation.  We read in Zeph. 1:12 of God finding those who seem to be “entrenched” in their indifference to God.  “At that time, I will search through Jerusalem with lamps.  I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, those who think to themselves, ‘The Lord neither rewards nor punishes’” (NET).

“Entrenched” can be translated as those “who thicken on their sediment.”  If wine is allowed to remain on the sediment too long, it will thicken into syrup. “The image suggests that the people described here were complacent in their sinful behavior and interpreted the delay in judgment as divine apathy” (NET).  The cultural narrative in our day conditions even some of the faithful to believe that God is not active in history, expressed in the sentiment of the Psalmist, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees” (Ps 10: 11). 

Men, don’t allow yourself to become complacent by allowing the current cultural narrative lull you to sleep spiritually.   There is no doubt that the spirit of Antichrist is becoming stronger in our day.  Listen to Paul’s warning.  “You’ll also remember that I told you the Antichrist is being held back until just the right time.  That doesn’t mean that the spirit of anarchy is not now at work.  It is, secretly and underground.  But the time will come when the Antichrist will no longer be held back but will be let loose” (II Thess. 2:6-7 – Message). 

Men, I want to be vigilant, with my ear open to what is going on in the culture, while being alert to the sound of the trumpet.  Be prepared for that day. “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill.  Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming” (Joel 2:1). 

As God is mocked, as his purpose for humanity is dismissed, and as ultimate reality – as expressed in his Word – is neglected, our heavenly Father will not allow such conditions to exist for the sake of his glory. Get ready.