Jeremiah 23:16-17

16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

The dream I had yesterday continues to haunt me some 24 hours later (Evil). Evil is very real and it is impossible to counter without first recognizing it in all it’s form.

As I prayed for direction into God’s word this morning I was led again to the words of Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet who was charged by God to spread the word that God’s judgment was coming to those who rejected God in exchange for other idols.

And in verse 23, we encounter evil in the form of false prophets; those who encourage people that happiness can be found in a thousand different places other than following God.

Has not our society become overflowing with the false prophets of health, fame, beauty, self-seeking pursuits, idolotrous pleasure of flesh and fancy.

“You will be happy if…” is the cry of the materialistic profiteers who try and sell us their products in-between the paganistic  pages of prime time television. And we sit like drones in front of these boxes pumping immorality and commercialism into our minds and wonder why our children end up hooked on video games and get bad grades in school and have become desensitized to morals and impersonalized down to relationships lived out on a 3×3 hand held texting box.

Jeremiah 23:10-11 For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right. 11 “Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their evil, declares the Lord.

I believe this passage is speaking to an even more dangerous false prophet, the ones found not only in the churches of old, but right here today.

Churches where complacency and watered down messages of good news, prosperity, and joy that await all those who simply “pray the sinners prayer”. Pews packed with people there for the music and fellowship but have little concern or awareness of the true sin nature prospering in their own hearts.

Preachers that imply by their omissions of the complete word of God that how we live our lives is no longer relevant; we simply need to proclaim faith and God does the rest, we have no part. Simply showing up to church once-a-week or maybe once a month, dropping a couple coins in the coffer and lifting ones hands is all that is needed for the supernatural vending machine to open its money purse and start pouring out blessings.

The very real warnings found all throughout God’s word is a message of repentance, we must turn from our evil ways, not just before we come into authentic relationship with Christ, but even more-so afterwards, for we can no longer claim the veil of ignorance.

For the true follow of Christ we are elevated to the status of saints and disciples; we are to become the hands, feet, voices and very heart of God, to share His Gospel for His glory alone.

Repent or face judgement was not a pleasant message back then, and it’s no less distasteful to the masses now.

One of the most perverse and dangerous forms of evil I see is the subtle voice that says, “it’s ok, you can keep on smoking pot on the weekend, screaming at your children, viewing pornography when the wife is out of town, watch those “funny” TV shows & movies every night, (add your immorality here)… God is a god of  forgiveness and love, if you “say” you believe in Him, you are forgiven and can do what you want, he understands”.

Carnal Christianity is not biblical.

The message of passivity towards immorality comes in the form of Christian churches who are led by “feel good” preachers, who only preach Good News but no conviction, no wrath, no condemnation.

The world will be judged, the day is drawing near. The time is now to have our own house in order. Not pleasant words for those in Sin, but joyous words for those who are in Christ.

If we find the words of judgment fearful and offensive, then we need to test our own hearts and examine our own deeds, for God too will judge our ways.

Yes, the Good News is very real. The New Covenant through Christ is the very catalyst that offers forgiveness and rest for the sinner, but only for the repentant sinner.

Redemption is not for the one who claims faith but makes no effort to change their ways, it is not for the one who listens to God’s word but whose heart remains so hardened that he does not hear, for the one who stands in judgment of God’s work as a spectator but makes no effort to participate in it.

We are called to a new life in Christ for the good works He has prepared for us.

God came to us so that we would be transformed by the renewing of our mind, to call us to be set apart from the evil that exists in the world, the idolatry of selfish pursuits and placing money, power, fame, materialism, lustful pleasures and the like before Him, our Creator, our Sovereign Lord.

This topic of evil presses on my heart, not so much as a warning to others, but in testing the condition of my own heart. When I came to Christ at 45 years old I thought the work was done, but more than 2 years later I am in full awareness that the work is just beginning.

The work of sanctification is a participatory relationship of unconditional love where the Father leads and we follow.

It is scary, it is difficult, at times it is painful, but what a glorious joy it is to realize that we are prisoners of most high God, set apart with a plan and purpose that goes far beyond anything we could have imagined. But we must willingly choose to pick up our cross and follow.

Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. “

My prayers today brothers and sisters in Christ is that we recognize the evil of complacency, first and foremost in our own hearts. May we not let the slippery slope of acceptable immorality prevalent in our society affect our walk with Christ. Let us hold ourselves accountable to God’s word, and in that shine the light of example for those around us.

May we all be encouraged to have our walk speak louder than our words.