Jeremiah 23:16-18 – This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?
We as a nation are used to our comforts, even when it comes to our souls. We do not like to hear we have made mistakes, that we are choosing foolishly, that we are in the wrong. As a result, we even begin to seek out “faith groups” that make us feel warm and fuzzy about ourselves. After all, we do good things, right? That may be so, but should we stop there? Should we not pay homage to the One who makes it possible for us to be able to help others? Are we looking for accolades today or are we looking forward to eternal glory? We must always remember there has been a tremendous price paid for us, whether or not we accept that gift. It was born more than 2,000 years ago. The child who came was not accompanied by great fanfare, laser lights, and fog machines. He was born in a barn and slept in a feeding trough. From the humblest of beginnings was the King of kings, yet the impact He made – and continues to make – is the most remarkable thing ever to have happened in the history of the world. It is His truth that we should be hearing, studying, and witnessing to others, and not something we are doing ourselves. After all, it was Jesus himself who told us, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all. (Mark 9:35)” Man is fickle and can turn on a dime. God is faithful and will never leave us. We have to decide whom we will follow, either man or Christ, and then ask ourselves, how long do I want my glory to last?