Uncomfortable Ill-fitting And Un-timely

7.17.2011

Isaiah 30:10-11 10 They say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. 11 Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” NIV

It seems our nation is teetering on a precipice. It seems many are disgruntled and complaining, “Why don’t we just fix this stupidity!?” And while there are those who complain and groan about the government we elected; there are also those who couldn’t care less. These are those who quickly shush any mention of politics, government and/or social issues: “I don’t even want to think about it!” And off they run screaming with their hands over their ears…

Life isn’t about politics or the rulership of men. It’s true! But the rulership of men is something we simply cannot ignore. Nor can we afford to ignore the rulership of God who guides the rulership of men. But when we throw God out of the conversation, then comes the real complaint: [We] say to the seers, “See no more visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” In other words  blissful ignorance is better than having to deal with the truth.

Truth demands response and accountability. Mankind (as a whole) doesn’t seem to do well with accountability. Truth demands living at a higher level of existence: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27 NIV) We’d rather have illusions than this; widows and orphans are only getting what they deserve…

What people really want is to live without responsibility. What people really want is to live selfishly and look out only for numero uno. No, not everyone; and no, not all the time; but these two verses sure sum up a lot of the attitude of people nowadays. We crave good news at whatever cost as long as it doesn’t cost us. And we’ll gladly accept illusion and delusion rather than have to deal with uncomfortable, untimely, ill-fitting truth.

Today, I think about my friend Nita who crusades against human trafficking and sex-slavery; talk about uncomfortable, untimely and ill-fitting. What’s your passion? What makes you mad enough to act? It’s worth thinking about – and then acting upon…