Earlier this year, I did a verse-by-verse independent study through Jeremiah, and I found that chapter 35 gives a very interesting lesson. Jeremiah called in the clan of Rechab to the Temple in the days that the Babylonians were closing in on Jerusalem. Their ancestor, Jonadab, made a vow that neither he nor any of his family would ever taste or drink wine. Jeremiah brought them over and had a table full of different wines and said that God had told them to drink. This family said that their father had made that vow and they would be sure to not break it. Jeremiah was pleased and then made a proclamation to all Judah that if this family would keep their vows and their word, even when a prophet said to break it, then why would all of Judah so readily break their vows with God?
This passage stood out to me because loyalty to our word and loyal to God’s Word are virtually non-existent today. I all but totally understand Jesus’ grief when He asked, “When I return, will I find any faith in Israel?” Jesus is asking, “Will I find anyone actually believing me when I come back?” I’ve heard talk of a great/grand revival that will be a 3rd Great Awakening for America, and more people will be saved than in the history of mankind. The primary verse cited is in Revelation 7:9 when John sees the great multitude at the throne worshiping God beyond count. But I find such a notion of this “great revival” to have no backing because Jesus said, “Narrow is the gate and narrow is the way. Few are those who find it.” The number in heaven will be numerous, but they will be very few in comparison to those who go to hell. There has never been a majority of believers, true born-again believers, in any society and there most certainly won’t be as the end times approach. Unlike all those around them, the Rechabites kept their vows to stay faithful through the generations. Jeremiah pointed out this clan as a group who stayed on the narrow way. Who here is like them?
A key point here is that this clan kept their vows despite a prophet, a man of God, telling them that it’s okay to break it. Now, Jeremiah was testing them, not tempting them. There is a difference. If any of the clan had stepped forward, Jeremiah would have stopped them. But any other prophet of his time would have said the same thing then let them drink. There are many who claim to be prophets, or preachers, or pastors, those who claim to speak for and represent God and do nothing of the sort. Jeremiah was the only one of his time to do so. But I also want you to note how powerful the deception is.
In 1 Kings 13, an unnamed man of God, a prophet, confronted Jeroboam about his false idols. Jeroboam had just been made king over the newly formed northern Kingdom of Israel, and he made two golden calves to be centers of worship instead of the Temple in Jerusalem. This man of God rebuked him, but in and among this, God told him not to rest or eat or drink in that area. Then another prophet intercepted him and said an angel told him to come get him and for him to eat and drink. Yet he was lying. The man of God believed him and returned to eat and drink. God confronted him and before he returned home, a lion killed him on the road because he disobeyed God’s word.
I am also reminded of Nehemiah as he was building the wall. A very crafty tactic from Sanballot was to hire Shemaiah, a prophet and a man of prayer, to tell Nehemiah to come to the Temple and hide. Shemaiah was hired to say that, and Nehemiah perceived it. A man of God, someone who had been in prayer, came to Nehemiah and gave him a false message. Nehemiah spotted it.
We live in times where people “hear from God” all the time, yet none of them ever get anything real about it. If you have the time, watch this video from Justin Peters. He goes through the “Word of Faith” preachers, namely Kenneth Copeland, Sid Roth, and Paula White, who through the whole of 2020 butchered nearly every statement they made about what God told them. They never had a hint about what COVID would do, and they tried to “pray” or even “blow” it away. Didn’t happen. Then they all jumped hard onto the Trump bandwagon, and I dare say turned him into an idol. They all proclaimed he would win a second term and guess what? It didn’t happen. (Exactly how that played out was a clear case of cheating and fraud, but God put it in front of our faces and let it happen.) Yet so many still listen to them as though they “are from God.” And I’m asking, “Why do they still listen to them?”
I especially hear this issue coming from the origins debate. In recent debates I’ve had with Old Earth Creationists, they purpose to declare their position to be Biblical (when it’s not) and to say they “followed the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, we are to welcome them in. Yet, as I listen, it’s the same thing. I have made my vow as a born-again believer that I will believe and submit to the authority of Scripture (this is part of the job description of being a Christian) and this stuff is contrary to that vow. I cannot and will not partake in it. When I listen to these arguments, I can tell they are not hearing from God. Here are some clues: They love to cite “their opinions.” They often say, “I think.” When confronted with the clear text, their arguments have the form of “I don’t understand it, therefore that text must not say that.” Yet, they insert things that are not explicitly stated as being equal to the text. Quick caveat: this is also leveled at the young earth creationists for “adding geologic models” to the text, however, none of the YEC geologists I know ever put their models as being “equal” to Scripture. I hear old earth geologists do so all the time. They call it “nature,” but they aren’t talking about the full study of the natural world, but their own models.
Paul said, “If anyone or even an angel were to preach another gospel, let him be accursed.” In every single book of the NT, except Philemon, there is a charge to stand for the truth and don’t let ANYONE tell you otherwise. The Rechabites stood for their vows. The saints throughout the ages stood for their vows to the point of death. They refused to recant. Despite all the people who claimed to be for God telling them to do otherwise, they held to their convictions and God praised them for it. Their reward? They would never fail to have a man stand before God, representing and honoring Him. God will not leave those who stay loyal to Him unrewarded.
This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration. All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved. Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.
0 comments:
Post a Comment