Stand and Be Heard

While reading a bit of God's word this morning, I came across a message given by God to Ezekiel in Chapter eleven. There was a lot of mayhem going on in Judah in that day, especially in the city of Jerusalem and God must have needed someone to talk to that he trusted would listen. Ezekiel was his man. So, God showed Ezekiel about twenty-five men standing around at the gate of the city. Verse 2 of chapter 11 in THE MESSAGE reads as follows: "God said, "Son of man, these are the men who draw up blueprints for sin, who think up new programs for evil in this city..." And verse 4 says, "Oppose them, Son of man. Preach against them."

Well, I am not Ezekiel, or even a kissing cousin to this great prophet, but I do have a propensity to want to speak to others of things about which I feel deeply. In other words, I do have the characteristic of a prophet without the skill, wisdom, or audience. ( I have no idea if anyone ever reads this blog, but I guess that's going to have to be up to God! Is not my job, man.) Still, Verse 4, although spoken to Ezekiel, just may be a call to me to get off my duff and do something.

Our world is full of the kind of leaders that Ezekiel saw at Jerusalem's gate--leaders who seek to gain money and power for themselves, who promise one thing and intend another. Some encourage the innocent to participate in their scams or even be part of their scams, finally bringing total disaster to the innocent and power to themselves. We see it daily in the news, some "blueprint for sin" that is being brought about. We cannot trust those who promised us truth and service for our good, and then are deaf and blind to the needs of those counting on them--the people!

Disception rules. And we become desolate and feel alone. We can't always discern which leader is being honest and which is not. Being human, leaders sometimes get caught up in their own wants, not realizing they are sacrificing the one thing we voters, we the public, expect from them--honesty. If they tell us they are all for us--they better be. Nothing less than "all" is honest.

No man is perfect. And neither is the public--you and me. Our leaders will be imperfect; they will fail us. But, it should not go by unnoticed. If it does go unnoticed, it might be tried on us again! No, that won't do. We wouldn't let our kids get by with being dishonest and we must not let our leaders play the game either. They may be forgiven, but, by gum, they should at least hear from us. Dishonesty plays a terrible game. A great spiral begins, spinning down to distrust, and finally to un-love, which hurts the family, the neighborhood, the city, and the nation.

So send a letter, make a phone call, write an Email, don't waste your anger. Use it! Inform the leader who has disappointed you how y0u feel and why you feel it. Like God said to Ezekiel, "Oppose them, (sons and daughters) of man. Preach against them!"

And, pray like mad! For with the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth we have to tell, we can make a difference in our world. Don't wait until it is too late!!

Fondly, jo