Standing on the Verge of Gettin' it Wrong
Well, here we are on the verge of the year of our Lord 2007. In just a few nights several would-be prophets will speak forth what saith their fertile imaginations for their itchy-eared fans. Charges to launch out into the deep, to lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes; and promises of a breakthrough will be plentiful as masses of the deceived flood churches on New Years Eve for "Watchnight" service.
How quickly they seem to forget that they were promised the same things last year, and the year before that and the year before that. Of course, the failure of the previous prophecies will easily explained away by recognizing that it was not yet their "season". Doubtless, there have been individuals in probably every congregation who have realized a monetary windfall or some tremendous blessing from God; but I have never witnessed any of these wannabe Nostrodamuses (or is that Nostrodami?) identify the exact person or persons who would enjoy these blessings. They always send out some scatter-shot prophecy, general enough to find fulfillment with somebody. As the old saying goes, "if you throw enough mud against a wall, some of it has got to stick".
What all the blessing-hungry minions fail to realize is that what their local swami is doing is not prophecy; it's fortune-telling which was strickly forbidden by God in the Old Testament. And why is it that we never hear any "prophetic word" about bad things? The biblical prophets frequently predicted famine, exile and death. I bet you'll never hear any of these junior Jeane Dixons say anything like this: "2007 is going to be a year of severe trial. Some of you will die, some will be imprisoned, some of you will even go broke." Talk about emptying a church. A fire alarm wouldn't do it as fast!
I'm no prophet, but the truth is some Christian will die this year. Some Christian will be severely tried, be imprisoned or go broke in 2007. Wouldn't a little forewarning help prepare us? I guess that kind of forecast wouldn't scratch itchy ears. And It would definitely cut into the offering that night.
The letter to the Hebrews makes it pretty unmistakable: "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spokento us by His Son . . ."(Heb 1:1-2a). The canon of Scripture is closed. There is no "new revelation". Heck, most of us aren't obeying the old revelation! Whatever 2007 holds, only becoming like Jesus is going to count for eternity.
Here's a prediction for you . . . God will continue to be Holy, faithful and in control of ALL things in 2007.
". . .fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand". Isaiah 40:10
Keith
B. L. B. B.!
(Be Like the Bereans Baby!)
About Me
- Keith L. Tolbert
- Covington, Georgia, United States
- Married to Lisa (fine as wine and just my kind) three sons: Kristopher(16) Kyle(13), Karson(5)and Kameron(11mos). I grew up in the Bronx, N.Y. Big Yankees (Can you say:27 World Championships"?) and Giants fan. Attended the University of Georgia, played football, pledged Omega Psi Phi. I am an airline pilot currently living in Covington, Georgia.
3 comments:
What kind of suffering have you seriously endured?
Of Biblical proportions? None. I don't claimed to have suffered any great tragedies, thank God.
My point is that when they do strike, our perspective (as Christians) should be Biblical and with the understanding that God IS in CONTROL. Anything that an All-powerful, Holy and Loving God permits to occur in His children's life has to be for their ultimate good. See Romans 8:28
I believe Pat Robertson made some vague prediction about a tsunami striking the northeast in 2006. He claimed that the severe flooding in the New England area last year was the fulfillment of this prophecy. Questionable. No doubt some of the so-called prophets have made predictions of calamities in general, with less than a biblical success rate. Deuteronomy 18 requires a 100% success rate for a prophecy to be a true prophecy of God. 100% accurate, 100% of the time.
My point of this blog is that at New Years most of these guys make glowing promises of riches and well-being for folks who have been had the promises made over and over again. And said promises are never specific to anyone in particular. They are always a general predeiction, like a horoscope which can generally apply to various people. Like mud against a wall.
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