Column by Sumter Pastor Joey Durham: Don't let anyone minimize repentance for sin to you
Today's devotion is, "The Hallmark of a False Prophet." My text is Jeremiah 28:15, where we read, "Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie." (KJV)
Please notice with me the last phrase of this verse, which brings out the hallmark, or the sure sign that a false preacher is doing his work. The Lord God through Jeremiah indicts Hananiah with the charge of making the people of Judah to "trust in a lie." In verse 16, the God of Heaven says this to Hananiah, "Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD." (KJV) What a terrible thing for a "preacher" to do! To stand in front of his people week after week and never bring to their attention what is crucially important for his families to escape Hell and enjoy the bliss of eternal salvation.
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet because he wept over the sin of his people and the sure reality that the nation he loved was heading for the judgment of Almighty God. Jeremiah pleaded with his people to repent of their sin and turn to God, but his people were enamored with the smooth speeches that tickled their ears and sweet discourses that soothed their consciences, as they kept on believing the lies that they were hearing from false prophets.
The false preachers told the people of Judah that they would not go into Babylonian captivity, even though God said they would. They were told that Nebuchadnezzar would not enter into and destroy Jerusalem, even though God gave Jeremiah the message to preach that Nebuchadnezzar would if Judah did not repent. What happened? Scriptural record bears out that Hananiah and the rest of the false prophets were indeed lying to their people, but the people realized their mistake of trusting their lies when it was too late. Please don't let anyone minimize repentance for sin to you, because Jesus Christ made it of utmost importance for anyone to be saved in Luke 13:3. "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (KJV) Please don't let anyone convince you with the lie that "just being a good person is what matters to God, or just make sure your good works out number your bad and you'll be just fine when you enter eternity" because Titus 3:5 states, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (KJV) If you have a preacher that loves you and your family enough to preach against sin and that you must repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ as your Savior to see Heaven when you leave this life, you need to thank God every day that you have a man of God that won't tickle your ears with lies. He loves you so much that he is willing to present to your heart the truth of the Word of God.
Joey Durham is pastor at Open Bible Baptist Church at 180 Old Manning Road in Sumter. You can contact Pastor Durham at durham.joey@yahoo.com or call the church office at (803) 481-9315.