Hearing What They Want to Hear :: By Dave Hubley
(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
I find it sad that there is so much “verbal fabrication” and “selective hearing” slathered over and within news, blogs, radio, TV, and even individual conversations. It is both local, national, and global; the implications are profound – and they are prophetic.
Having to spend so much time reading about and watching these events unfold exposes me to a lot of this, and at times, it is like getting caught out in a rainstorm without being dressed for it. It is cold, clammy, gloomy, uncomfortable, and sad because the suffering it is causing to so many is all so unnecessary.
You might say that I always have the option of not doing what I do, but that is only partially true. I am compelled to write these articles (as are most of the other sisters and brothers who do this, I am certain), because one of my spiritual gifts is to be a Watchman on the wall.
“But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand” (Ezekiel 33:6.)
The other is my love of and following the Lord, His Truth, and His prophetic scriptures, and observing them as they unfold around us all.
Having said all that, I am not complaining, just reporting. Back to the subject at hand.
The Word of God repeatedly warns against lying and deception, both in terms of being a transmitter and a receiver.
“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving [transmitter] and being deceived [receiver]” (Timothy 3:13). [Added by me]
I am 72, so I have been a witness to many changes in human behavior since I was a young person. One of the most notable is that, in the past, when someone knowingly told an outright lie, they would typically avert their eyes.
Now, many look directly at you or right into the camera with boldness and arrogance.
While unspoken, this practice presumes that the listener is intrinsically stupid.
Contemporary lying is watered down by a relatively new and deceptive term, “Spin.”
It is lying, however, and God is not deceived.
In terms of being a “receiver of deception and lies,” I believe the above verse describes these individuals as evil because they are willfully being deceived. They hate the Truth. If it is in opposition to God, they embrace it.
God warns of the eventual consequence of this behavior.
“For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
These people are not able to accept the Truth of God’s Word because, for too long, they have willfully chosen to reject it. For that reason, they will be judged and receive the consequences of their intentional rebellion.
Think of them as being like a radio (in their mind and heart) that will only tune to signals that broadcast deception(s) because that is all they want to hear.
What about those who purposely teach these lies and deceptions to undiscerning minds as is common practice in so many institutions of “higher learning”? The most obvious are the lies that God is dead, that He is a myth, that He is only “one of many ways to heaven,” or other such soul-destroying heresies. Unless repented of, teaching or blindly accepting this malevolence will result in condemnation on the day of judgment.
What about those who hear these and many other humanist-based lies, but it has become background noise, like when a TV is on, and they are not really listening?
They may not willfully or purposely “tune in” to these lies, but they are nevertheless surrounded by them (along with the truth). They simply aren’t discerning. I believe this likely describes most of the people in this world today.
What matters is how does God view this state of being?
Are you still innocent if you ignore His Word, warnings, admonitions, laws and precepts because you got too busy or were distracted by “other things”?
Let’s examine His Word and see what He has to say.
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20). Emphasis added by me.
How does God view any attempt to justify this ignorance of His existence and ignoring of His Laws? How does He view the claim, “I didn’t know”?
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4).
So, there will still be no excuses.
Has God not also revealed to humankind that He has equipped us with an intellect and that He expects us to use it?
“‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the LORD” (Isaiah 1:18).
In only three sections of scripture, He has addressed every willful and vapid excuse of man.
A weak claim of “lack of awareness” may attempt to address this purported “innocence by misunderstanding,” but it clearly does not excuse it.
What about open denial or defiance?
God does not mince any words in addressing those who only know of Him intellectually but never acknowledge Him or their accountability to Him.
Judgment day will be a horror for those to whom Jesus will say:
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” (Matthew 7:23).
God does not want anyone to perish but all to come to a knowledge of the Truth.
“This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
Hearing and Seeing Truth
Perhaps you have begun to take note of the cataclysmic shift in events occurring in this world that are far outside of what has, up to the present time, constituted “normal.” These changes are taking place in the physical world and also in human behavior, and they are in alignment with prophecies contained in the Word of God, given to mankind to alert those who will seek His Truth and reject the lies of this perishing and corrupt world system. The prophecies are ancient, but their fulfillment is near at hand.
The Word of God has promised a gift to anyone who will open the door of their heart and spirit to Jesus Christ as the one and only Way, Truth, and path to Life.
How can you receive this Gift? You can choose life!
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
Dining with an invited guest is a very personal relationship, and it always has been.
God, through Jesus Christ, seeks that personal relationship.
Important: It is important to understand that, over time, repeatedly rejecting God’s Grace and Mercy can lead to a “hardening of your heart” to the point where you become incapable of repenting and turning to Him.
“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7b).
If you have read this far, I hope you might read a bit further. Perhaps it is the time to evaluate where you might be on the plumb line of Truth and decide who you will choose to serve and, in that, where you will spend eternity.
God gives free will to man to choose one of only two paths that you will follow.
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Emphasis added by me.
The final fulfillment of the prophecies contained in God’s written Word has always been inevitable, the only variable being the “when” but never the “if.”
It is my belief that the “when” is at hand, as Jesus describes it.
“So, you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! (Matthew 24:33).
As long as you are in your living years, you can respond to God’s invitation.
I may not know you, but I am praying that you will choose Life.
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com
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