Watching and reading the media’s narrative on the state of our nation, I often visualize bandages being applied to deep cultural wounds. These wounds fester beneath the surface, producing enormous amounts of pent-up anger and frustration that will one day boil over in lawlessness. I feel I’m being force-fed a false sense of peace when spiritually I can see the dark clouds on the horizon. I want to shout, “Wake up America!! You’re being fed a lie!”
Twice Jeremiah warned the prophets and priests of his day about covering up their sins with bandages. “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14; 8:11). They were giving people false assurances that everything was well. It was like putting bandages on cancer and declaring people healed. As a nation we can ignore the reality of having strayed from God for only so long. Bandages only create an illusion of wellness.
Later Jeremiah complains to God about the prophets, “O Sovereign Lord, their prophets are telling them, ‘All is well – no war or famine will come. The Lord will surely send you peace’” (Jer. 14:13 NLT). God responded, “These prophets are telling lies in my name. I did not send them or tell them to speak. I did not give them any messages. They prophesy of visions and revelations they have never seen or heard. They speak foolishness made up in their own lying hearts” (Jer. 14:14 NLT).
Even more indicting are the words of Jer. 23:17, “They keep saying to those who despise my word, ‘Don’t worry! The Lord says you will have peace!’ And those who stubbornly follow their own desires, they say, ‘No harm will come your way!'” (Jer. 23:17 NLT).
“It is a terrible thing to mislead God’s people into falsehood, complacency and immorality, to be chaplains to the unrepentant and to collude in the culture of lies” (Bible Speaks Today). Through the mainstream media we are witnessing a massive spiritual coverup. We are told all will be well, while we are becoming more decadent each year. Men: don’t fall for this propaganda.
I must warn you that things are only going to get worse in society. Here are a few convictions we must diligently live out if we are going to weather the storm that is already upon us. We don’t want to be caught believing the lie.
First: ultimate reality is found in a loving Creator God, who has given us his Word of truth in scripture. Here we find God’s view of reality; a worldview to live by. Every other view of reality needs to be (and can be) measured against scripture.
Second: total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus (Joshua 24:23 NIV, James 4:7-8). No secrets, no compromises, no half-hearted commitment. Ask continually, “Lord, what is the next right thing?” Seek his counsels diligently and do what he prompts you to do. He will see us through the coming storm. The propaganda will only get louder and more convincing. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Is. 5:20).
Third: commitment to kingdom living. I am part of Jesus’ reign on the earth. No earthly rule will last. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve and they will reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:10). And later in Revelation: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and he will reign for ever and ever” (11:15).
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