“Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts and will turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:2-4).
God’s word has a way of fulfilling itself. In this day we think we can see a wholesale example of people with “itching ears”. The battle rages around us; mortal wounds have struck many of our beloved friends; the ranks seem ragged at times; but-a remnant has been spared. To God be the glory!
One of the greatest problems now confronting the Lord’s Church is the setting again of eyes on the harvest field. The harvest field; that glorious field said by our Lord to be white unto harvest! Shall we not look upon that field with great anticipation? Let us not allow ourselves to become inactive for grieving for the ones gone out from us: “Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him alone.” They have come to the prophets with their idols in their hearts; God has answered them According to their idols (Ezek. 14:1-5). They have acted rashly by declaring their idols holy, and then making inquiry (Pro. 20:25). They have rejected the Apostles: Christ’s command is to shake off the dust of our feet against them Let us preach the word. The word is our lamp (Ps. 119:105). The word is living (Heb. 4:12). The word is able to save our souls (Jam. 1:21). Let us love the word and tell others the gospel message.
Rejoice in the Lord. Faithful brethren everywhere stand with you. God stands with you. Plead His cause — He has promised His word will not return to Him void. He has promised to give the increase. He is pleased when we preach the word. “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed beg bread” (Psa. 37:25).
Jim McDonald