Are You Ready for the Storm?
Today’s Reading – Ezekiel 10 – 13
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. (Ezekiel 13:10 & 11)
At the time of this writing, the East Coast of the United States is busy preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Earl, a category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145 MPH. Looking outside now I don’t see any sign of the impending storm: the sun is shining and the crickets are chirping; and it is so still that all I can clearly hear outside (besides the crickets) is the sound of the sprinkler moving back and forth as it waters the grass behind the church. The weather people say that the storm is coming, yet there are many who are dismissing the warnings, and are choosing to go about their business as normal, even in some of the more vulnerable barrier islands. Maybe they are listening to the wrong prophets. As for me: I choose to listen to the folks who at least are trained to know about these things; and though we are not located right on the coast, we are close enough to it to be concerned enough to make a few preparations.
God uses the illustration of a storm here in chapter 13. He say that He is going to send a stormy wind to blow upon the people of God. The problem is they have been listening to false prophets who have been tickling their ears and telling them that there is nothing to worry about. God further illustrates His point by saying that these people have built a wall of protection, but have used untempered mortar which will not harden. The wall may look strong, but it is a false security, because unless the mortar hardens the wall will fall when the storm comes. However there were a few good prophets such as Ezekiel and Jeremiah who were telling people “Thus saith the Lord”. These men were building strong walls of security for those who chose to heed their warnings.
It is amazing to me all of the prophets we have in America today that are telling people all sorts of things that will not help the people at all. Many are proclaiming “peace and safety” like the false prophets of old. However, I choose to listen to the God of the Bible. I want to heed the warnings of the prophets that speak for the Lord. I want to build my house on the Lord Jesus Christ so that when the storm comes, my house (my family, my church) will stand. How about you? Be careful who you listen to. Make sure that the “prophets” in your life are preaching the truth found in the Word of God. The storm is coming. Will your wall stand.
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