October 24
Jer 44:24-47:7 | PS 94:1-23 | Prov 26:6-8 | 2 Tim 2:22-3:17
Prophecy is unfolding before our eyes. But we, even those in the faith, are often blind and deaf. We are to be observant and discerning, but to maintain credibility we should not speak with certainty about things we are uncertain about, such as specific dates. We read in 2 Timothy 3:15-17, “You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” God has given us all that we need. We need to approach His Word, not like a mystery novel, but allow the facts to speak for themselves. Too many in the faith have run ahead of themselves, led others astray, caused outsiders to mock and disregard us as we make statements we are in no position to make. We read in Proverbs 26:6-8, “Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison! A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg. Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.” May we in the faith never play the fool, but lift up God’s Word honorably.
The prophets of old often spoke of events far into the future. One could say it is easy for any of us to make claims 200 years in the future as none of us will be alive to prove it true or false. Jeremiah gives a number of prophecies that were ignored by those listening, so to prove that what he was saying would transpire, he offered a near prophecy in Jeremiah 44:29-30, “ “‘And this is the proof I give you,’ says the Lord, ‘that all I have threatened will happen to you and that I will punish you here.’ This is what the Lord says: ‘I will turn Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, over to his enemies who want to kill him, just as I turned King Zedekiah of Judah over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.’” History showed this to come true shortly after it was spoken forth. In fact, those who speak forth, as from God, must be very careful, as Moses so clearly stated in Deuteronomy 18:22, “ If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.”
So, where are we now? We read in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” What I do know is that these scream of our times, but we don’t know the time or the hour. We need to point others to portions of Scripture like this, not to tell them that certain events will transpire today or tomorrow. We are to warn them of the times that we are living and more importantly we are to point them to our and their only hope, the Lord Jesus Christ. May we be bold in our profession of our faith and bold in our presentation of the gospel message to others.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: