The prophet Amos turned into sent by means of God to warn the nation of Israel regarding their impending destruction. Their sins of materialism, idolatry and wantonness had led them far-off from a correct relationship with God, and if they did not flip to God they might perish and be misplaced. Amos changed into trustworthy in offering this message, announcing, "Jeroboam (the king) shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile far from his land (Amos 7:eleven; ESV)."
This became now not a message well bought. The nation, as a whole, favourite to agree with that they had been now not in hazard, and that God was nevertheless satisfied with their choices. They could not undergo the actuality. Amaziah, the priest of the temple in Bethel told Amos in no doubtful terms, "O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, however in no way again prophesy at Bethel, for it's the king's sanctuary, and it's a temple of the kingdom. (Amos 7:12; ESV)"
as opposed to take heed to the truth, they favourite to do away with the messenger and listen to prophets extra appealing to the ears. below thirty years later, their nation could be in ruins, and their populace lifeless and scattered.
Jeremiah, the prophet, observed an identical phenomena in his day. "An appalling and horrible thing has took place in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the clergymen rule at their direction; my individuals like to have it so, however what's going to you do when the end comes? (Jeremiah 5:30-31; ESV)"
Isaiah turned into informed through God as he begun his ministry, "Go, and say to this people: 'keep on listening to, however don't have in mind; keep it up seeing, however do not understand.' Make the coronary heart of this americans dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and listen to with their ears, and be aware with their hearts, and turn and be healed. (Isaiah 6:9-10; ESV)" This became a flowery method of saying that the people would now not take heed to the actuality, settling on in its place to not be saved. it's price noting that Jesus, in His day, quoted this passage from Isaiah as being applicable to the Jews of His era (cf. Matthew 13:14-15).
it is a tragic reality that most americans do not appear to basically crave the actuality, however as an alternative opt to have their own ideas and believes verified and reinforced. you'll see this in matters secular. If we don't like the manner one channel offers the information, we turn the channel unless we find one which presents activities in a means greater pleasing to our world-view. If we don't like what the polls say about our favourite baby-kisser or political cause, we reject the polls as being untrustworthy. If we don't like the message, we assault the messenger.
truth, besides the fact that children has a method of not caring whether you just like the messenger, the message, or any aggregate of both. If a weatherman tells you accurately there's a storm coming your approach, disparaging his personality, and altering the channel will not avoid the rain. Likewise, the Israelites now not liking the preaching of Amos and telling him to move domestic, did not change the certainty of God's message to them. Closing their ears to the warnings best meant they might not ever take the steps necessary to avoid the disaster from coming.
When Paul wrote his ultimate farewell letter to Timothy, he urged Timothy no longer to develop discouraged in featuring the certainty. He told him, "preach the note; be able in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and educating. For the time is coming when people will not undergo sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves academics to swimsuit their personal passions, and may turn far from paying attention to the truth and get lost into myths. (2 Timothy 4:2-4; ESV)"
individuals, even in the eternal matters of heaven and hell, will commonly search for these academics who inform them what they already wish to accept as true with, in place of those that will inform them the actuality.
God's individuals can't allow the difficulty of itching ears to steer clear of them from speakme the fact in regards to the weighty matters of the gospel. regardless of whether men want to hear it, the love of Christ should compel us to give every chance to those that could listen to hear the message.
simply as importantly, we every deserve to guard ourselves in opposition t the temptation of handiest listening to these with whom we already agree. The Bible tells us, "buy the fact and promote it not, (Proverbs 23:23)" but here is not the same as assuming you already be aware of all of the certainty. If we refuse to take heed to any individual who does not say the things appealing to us, there will come a day after we close our ears to a message of value, and pass over a chance to be taught, develop and in any other case enhance our situation. In concerns earthly, this can hold us stagnate. In concerns eternal we will be misplaced.
The church of Christ invites you to return and analyze God's word with us at 234 Chapel pressure, Gallipolis, Ohio, that we may grow collectively. Likewise, if in case you have any questions or comments, please share them with us.
Jonathan McAnulty is minister of Chapel Hill Church of Christ. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the creator.
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