I wonder to what degree we apply a sort of “selective reading disorder” when it comes to Scripture. Specifically, do we get that the super-majority of warnings about the End Times is not directed at the unsaved but squarely at so-called believers? There were many in the last days of Israel and Judah who thought they were safe simply because they were members of the group designated to be God’s people. But the repeated warnings of what was to come, why it was to come, and how to avoid it were all directed at those who lived under the false assumption that God would never allow such a thing to happen to them. They thought it was for someone else.

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One of the definitions parents often have of a “good kid” is one who cares what their parents think. Yes, there are some children who actually care what their parents think about them and in many areas of their life provides a boundary of what they will or will not do. I am convinced that one of the essential steps toward addressing serious habitual sinful behavior in our life is when we finally realize that God the Father takes it personally. “How I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me“.

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The theme of those called to be God’s watchman is prolific throughout the whole of Scripture. It is found in Psalms ^[1] Isaiah ^[2] Jeremiah ^[3] and other places. It is a useful exercise to look up all the instances in your concordance and examine them side by side. In Ezekiel’s case he is called to warn about the effects of sin not just in the case of the unsaved who God identifies as “the wicked“, but to those who claim an intimate relationship with Him who in spite of knowing better engage in behavior contrary to the biblical definition of someone in good standing with the Lord.

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One of the most frustrating realities a believer faces is that their calling and ministry may be directed to ground that is, by and large, not very fertile. In our Western culture the mindset is that whatever is undertaken is proved successful in direct proportion to the market share it captures. God’s economy does not work like that. Whereas there are many approaches which have altered their message in order to be more palatable to the greatest number of sympathetic recipients, God’s demand is that the unaltered truth of His Word and ways be preached and adhered to regardless of the degree to which others adopt it or not.

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The word is not explicitly used here, but what is being spoken of could be best characterized as “endurance”. This is a highly touted quality throughout the whole of God’s Word but given little attention in an age when technology and services are expected to be delivered instamatically. God provides no guarantees that there will never be problems, trials, or hardships in life, only that He will be faithful to see us through them.

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I suppose it’s due at least in part to being an aggressive male raised in the American way of doing things, but my initial urge is to be a go-getter. I usually think first about taking on the challenge, meeting the problem head on, not being afraid to take the bull by the horns. My first thoughts are usually about how best to go out and engage whatever issue is looming on the horizon. But have you ever noticed how often the Bible speaks in terms of standing fast?

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Hezekiah makes a very interesting appeal to the remnant of God’s people left in Judah who Hezekiah is calling back to the Lord. He states that returning to God’s Word and ways is not only beneficial for the each individual so doing, but that it will have the same kind of effect on God’s people belonging to the northern kingdom of Israel who have already been carried away into captivity. In other words, personal faithfulness is not just something whose effects are limited solely to each individual, but provide something tangible for fellow believers as well. I don’t think we seriously consider that when we succeed or fail in our spiritual relationship with Christ that the benefits or detriments are not limited exclusively to just us alone.

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