A love of Truth

There is an eerie silence regarding end-time prophecies from pulpits around the world today. And I think that this is in part because of ignorance, as many seminaries and Bible schools allocate very little time to this topic during the courses that they offer; and in part because of the potential divisive nature of these prophecies – it cannot be denied that many favour Israel, and are against all other nations who have the destruction of Israel on their agenda.

Amos was active during 760-755 BC, and therefore gave the above prophecy about 160 years before Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon captured Jerusalem. We know that this prophecy is meant not for that time, but for the end times, because although Israel returned to their land again after being exiled to Babylon, they were dispersed once again in 70 AD by the Romans.

But then came the miraculous re-birth of Israel. Never in human history has a country and a nation been destroyed, its citizens scattered to all the corners of the earth, only to return to rebuild their devastated villages and farm their barren fields once again. And revive their ancient language to boot! And it is to the Israel of this time that Amos declares the word of God, Who always keeps His promises: never again will they be uprooted from their land.

Is God being unfair? No, God is called Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness. From ancient times He has clearly stated that people and nations will be blessed if they obey the Lord and cursed if they do not (Deut 28:2,15). This includes Israel. They have been severely punished by God during their history up to now whenever they turned away from their God – they, along with the Gentile nations, are certainly not exempt from God’s wrath!

The undeniable truth is that our choices in life not only influence us personally, but also our immediate circle of family and friends, as well as our nation as a whole. Sin left unchecked, spreads like a cancer. If I deliberately choose to blaspheme God and ridicule His followers, I teach my children and wider family to do the same. The consequences of these choices to turn against God, then fall on them as well, and if my national leaders likewise choose to turn their backs on God, these consequences are invited on our nation collectively.

The church urgently needs to address wrong thinking among its members regarding Israel, holding them up to the absolute truth which is revealed to us in the Bible, and not the relative truth widely broadcasted today which is based on lies, only to tickle the ears of  listeners as Paul warned about in 2 Tim 4:3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

Points to ponder: Upholding truth in a loving relationship is what true discipleship is all about – to correct wrong perceptions and behaviour in love and without judgement.