You Never Know What You Got Til Its Gone

"And when this comes to pass--surely it will come--then they will know that a prophet has been among them." -Ezekiel 33:33


Ezekiel has been faithfully proclaiming the word of the Lord. He has had to do some difficult things. He has pronounced judgment upon Egypt and upon God's people for their disobedience. It is amazing that the people haven't turned against him.

In fact, the people gather around and listen to Ezekiel's words, then they spend ample amounts of time talking about it. But the heart of these people is far from the Lord. They listen to the words from God, but they do not do them. They listen to a man, called by God, faithfully proclaim the true words of God and they do not obey. Yet somehow, they seem to have some strange sense of enjoyment from hearing. It is as if they only want to be entertained by God's Word. What they cannot see is that God's Word is against them. They cannot see that the message of judgment is against them. They cannot see their wicked ways.

I often wonder how many people sit in the church pews on Sunday only to be entertained by the Word of God? How many people miss the message entirely because they are content to hear the Word? We live in a culture where entertainment is everything. People pay millions to be entertained. For example, the newest Harry Potter movie cleared $168.5 million in the first weekend alone. I'm afraid that this mentality has permeated and infected the church. Many show up to church willing only to observe and not participate acts of worship. They seem content just following the flow of the culture.

Men and brethren! Let us not only hear the Word, but let us do the Word. Listen to what it says, then obey it! Forsake the notion that you will be entertained by the Word. When the Word is faithfully proclaimed, you will be confronted with its truth. You will see your wickedness and be driven to your knees by the awesome power of the Holy Spirit. Then, and only then, will you see your need for repentance. This is the power of the Word of God.

Someday, when all the judgments that the people were listening to came to pass, they would remember that a man--a prophet--spoke the Words of God faithfully among them. At that time, it will be too late. God will punish the wicked for their sins and reward the righteous for their faith. May we be a people who hears the Word of God and does it.