A COLD SWIM UPSTREAM

If you had something important to say, something that would warn others of impending danger would you say it? What if you could be sure your audience would rebuke you? What if you could be certain that your message was true but it was literally the kind of thing that you could be sure would alienate you for the rest of your life? I was and am interested in this stuff so I started reading about how the prophets of the Bible received there appointment.  I noted three things. God told them, respectively, to say what He told them to say, to not fear the rebels and to understand the consequences of NOT saying what He told them to say. It made sense to me. It sounds and may actually be pretentious but I saw myself in the prophets more because of the fearful character trait.

When you have something to say, something urgent, something life-saving it will be met with an array of emotions from confusion to outright refusal. And those reactions are not anomalies. They are standard. The Prophets alluded to did not feel worthy to communicate the message with which they had been entrusted. They were afraid, not only of the backlash they would undoubtedly incur but of the potential for failure. Aren’t you afraid of failing? Yeah…me too and I found it interesting how God addressed the fear of failure we all possess. Here’s what was said to Ezekiel:

⁴ The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ ⁵ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. ⁷ You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. ⁸ But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” EZEKIEL 2:4-8

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As a year ebbs near end we are all challenged with our role in communicating truth, we do well to remember the strength of the prophets as found in a strength much deeper than their own. The world can’t wait until we’ve made more money or even until we’ve raised our own families for us to decide it’s finally time to stand for unpopular virtues that have become trite and passé. The truth is lonely and divisive, fitting given the way in which Jesus arrived on the scene. Just saw “The Nativity” last night…good flick.