A Prophet’s Lament

What do you want me to say, church? Should I give you sweet wine to drink when all it will do is to keep you in your drunken stupor? Should I lie to you and tell you that everything is fine?

You refuse to listen to me if I tell you the truth. Instead, you only want sweet things like an over indulged child. I can’t even offer you something that will save you. Words from the Lord burn within me, but I know you will not listen. You find comfort in telling me that I am wrong. You think that I see doom, and so you dismiss me.

No. Do not be fooled. I do not see doom but a new horizon. This new day that comes will come with plenty of hardship because you fight God on change. You always have. He leads you left, so you pull to the right. You would rather stay safe and comfortable where you are than to have a place in his plan.

How then can I call you brother and sister? Have you forgotten what was done for you? And yet you are content to sit in your safety hearing only beautiful things when there needs to be a call to arms! Did you fall asleep while on guard? Look around you. We are surrounded and the enemy has us pegged. We are sluggish when we should be swift. We are dogged when we should be free. We are captive and useless in every way. Get up! Don’t fall asleep!

If I offer you warning or I tell you what the lord is calling out for you, do you listen? I would get a better response from an animal. Why don’t you hear me? Why are you content to be led astray? Even the leaders you follow are led astray.

Do I protest too much? Do I call out in vain? Why are you still sleeping? The trap has been set, and you are walking right into it! What would you have me do?

At last, I understand the grief and frustration of those that went before me. In vain they warned their people. In vain they tried to get them to turn away. Instead, others prophesied peace! They spoke in opposition to the truth because they did not want to believe that God would hand them over to be tested by fire. If you would only wake up, you would see what is heading straight for you.

What do you want me to say, church? Do you want me to speak over you sunshine when all I see are storms? Do you want me to tuck you in and let you sleep while doom and struggle crowds in around you?

I must stand alone. I hold the torch and if any of you should survive the slaughter, or if any of you should wake, I will hold the light that will help to lead you back home.