Don’t you just love all the wonderful options we have these days where churches are concerned?
I mean, gosh, somewhere there’s a church, television show, or a website proclaiming a message someone wants to hear.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3 – 4:4 NKJV)
The word “fables” is translated from the Greek word “mythos”, meaning – a tale, myth, fiction.
Many stories sound nice, but nice doesn’t necessarily equate with truth.
Christian folklore won’t raise the dead, but may harden someone’s heart.
Although a “church” may be known as a Christian hotspot, popularity isn’t necessarily an indicator of God’s approval.
In fact, if you’ll take a moment and remember all that you’ve read in the Bible, you’ll recall the majority is almost never right. The majority is typically found opposing God.
Truth isn’t always a popular thing.
At the Tower of Babel, the majority was wrong.
The residents of Sodom and Gomorrah were wrong, though they were loud, demonstrative, and in the majority.
The majority follow good marketing hype, popular opinions, charismatic personalities, and anyone who promises a great life with little investment or trouble.
“All you need is to believe in yourself, and you’ll have a life everyone else will envy.”
Truth is sometimes hard to handle. The Apostle Peter remarked that some of Paul’s writings were difficult to understand. But he reminds the reader to remain steadfast in the truth, not being led away into error. (2 Peter 3)
If you don’t abide in truth, you’re giving in to error, myths, and “Christian” fables.
In short, if you shun truth because it “doesn’t bear witness with your spirit”, you’re settling for a lie.
So what are your ears itching to hear?
Jesus said, “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.”
It is very difficult to listen to the Spirit of God, and understand what He is saying, if we’re focused on something else.
No, I don’t want to sit and listen to gloom and despair, or how bad things are going to get before Jesus comes.
I’d rather not listen to a prophet who only speaks of judgment.
But I do want truth. I NEED truth.
And so does this world, whether they know it, or believe it, or not.
Truth may not give a person goosebumps, but it can enlighten one’s darkened spirit.
Truth won’t bow down to presidents or kings, peons or paupers.
It never yields to opinion polls, Twitter followers, or Facebook friends.
Truth doesn’t care who’s listening; it’s the same in season and out.
Truth is always relevant. Fads and fetishes are not.
What are your ears itching to hear?
“How can I tell the difference between truth and error?”
The word of God is truth (John 17:17).
Anything which doesn’t line up with the whole counsel of God is error.
“Mostly true” is error.
If you’re determined to hear (and speak) truth, don’t be surprised when people mock you for taking a stand for truth.
“We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19 NLT)
And don’t be surprised to learn the majority of the world, unfortunately, will not repent of their rebellious ways.
“Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:12 – 3:13 NLT)
One last time: what are your ears itching to hear?
You’d better know the answer…
Jan Grace 