These things I do not preach with glee. I would prefer the Osteen amens but someone has to be Micaiah amidst the 400 lying prophets. King Ahab never did make it back. The true prophet was right of course because he actually heard from God and God is never wrong. As much as I would like the amens, then I would be trying to please man and not God. The wound is serious beloved. I know because I suffer from the same wound. I do not need an ouchless Band-Aid. I need to make sure the bleeding has stopped and that nothing is infected. This is not a game. Take a look just a few verses down at what God says through Jeremiah:
This is what the Lord says: "Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, "No, that's not the road we want!' I posted watchmen over you who said, "Listen for the sound of the alarm.' But you replied, "No! We won't pay attention!' -- Jeremiah 6: 16-17 (NLT)
Beloved, God wants us to walk down that old godly way. It is the narrow way. There will not be many on it like the broad path. Maybe we will not be as entertained. Maybe our ears will not be tickled as much. Maybe there will not be as many amens as we are accustomed too. But there is the truth of God there. There is divine protection from the pitfalls of this life there. There is rest for our souls there. Too many these days have turned away to listen to what they want to hear. They have said -- no that is not the road we want, we won't pay attention. Get off that road you are on. It leads to destruction. Watch who it is that you listen to. The object of our faith is not to feel better about ourselves but better about our God. Your peace in this life and your salvation for the next are too important to not take seriously. Preaching wrath is love.
We have stopped at the crossroads beloved. You might think that this is too hard a Word. You might think that I need to lighten up. That is ok, just three words for you to consider -- mark my words.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- June 24, 2012
