What Will You Do?

This past week, I had a small encounter with single parenting. Jordan took for the AFLC Annual Conference for four days, leaving Zeke and I to fend for ourselves. The good news: we're both still alive!; and visits from family and friends made the days I thought would last forever go quickly. Needless to say, I'm glad I am not a single parent and that Jordan made it back safely.

Every evening as Ezekiel chows down on milk, Jordan and I do our devotions together. Once we've finished that, Jordan reads a couple of chapters out of a Boxcar Children book to Ezekiel. Since I was alone last week, I did some reading to Zeke on my own from a children's storybook Bible that we have. Interestingly, the story of Jonah was portrayed a bit happier than the actual account we find in Scripture. Instead of bringing a message of destruction to Ninevah - "Yet 40 days and Ninevah will be overthrown" (Jonah 3:4) - this version records Jonah telling the people how much God loved them. Which, no doubt, is true: the LORD loved the people of Ninevah and he does indeed love each one of us. But isn't it interesting how that love is often what we focus on? What we hear from the pulpit, in books, and on TV? It's a lot more comfortable, isn't it? And it's definitely an easier message to bring to the lost.

A few days ago, during my devotions, I was struck by these words spoken by the LORD through the prophet Jeremiah:

"'An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophecy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?'" (Jeremiah 5:30-31)

The LORD says that those whom He placed in authority over His people brought false messages and made decisions as they deemed appropriate. False messages instead of the truth - which was no doubt difficult to hear (who wants to hear that judgement and destruction is coming?). Ruling on their own authority rather than seeking the LORD's guidance, recognizing His authority over them.

What really struck me, though, was the challenge laid down by the LORD: what will you do?

As we draw nearer each day to the return of Christ, I believe false messages will continue to abound - and unfortunately, many of them will come from leaders in the church.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:3) 

So, what will you do? Are you prepared? Do you know the truth? Are you ready to speak it, regardless of the cost?