False Visions

Ezekiel 12:21–25 (HCSB)

Again the word of the LORD came to me:

"Son of man, what is this proverb you ‹people› have about the land of Israel, which goes:

      The days keep passing by,

      and every vision fails?

Therefore say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put a stop to this proverb, and they will not use it again in Israel. But say to them: The days draw near, as well as the fulfillment of every vision.

For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. But I, the LORD, will speak whatever message I will speak, and it will be done. It will no longer be delayed. For in your days, rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass." ‹This is› the declaration of the Lord GOD.

 

I see a couple of things here. First, are not people saying the same kind of things today? “The Lord said He is coming back, but the days have passed—and the years—and He has not returned. He’s not going to return.”

 

But the Lord is coming back and one day the time of His return will arrive. I have some personal beliefs about our responsibility for getting the Gospel to the whole world—but there are other Christians in the world who are preaching the Gospel. The North American church is not a "lone ranger." We are not the only missionaries. The Gospel could go to the whole world in just a few years without our even knowing it. Then the Lord will fulfill His promise and return.

 

Second, the nature of a false vision or flattering message is that it makes us breathe a sigh of relief and basically say, “Everything is fine.” But when God gives a message it calls us to a posture of high alertness. God’s message always shakes us out of our apathy. He calls us to attention and action.

The spiritually discerning will be sensitive to this note in modern preaching.