Whom Do We Believe?

A sincere Christian man asked me the following question: “Whom do we believe? Over the years, I’ve read the works of many ministers who were convinced the end was near. Yet over and over, they’ve missed it. I realize now that some were just trying to sell their book, but others truly thought God was telling them the end was upon us. So whom do we believe?”

At times, I have been utterly broken before God about these things, crying out to him at the top of my voice, “Oh, Lord, I’ve been preaching for years that judgment is at the door. I’ve been writing books and delivering warnings about a coming economic crisis, and yet I only see the opposite happening. I see America prospering and going merrily along its path. Our nation is killing thousands of babies a week. We’re sliding down into pits of unbelievable filth and pushing you out of every institution. How long, Lord?”

I feel I’m uttering the same cry of frustration that Jeremiah raised to God. He spent years faithfully prophesying events that had not yet been fulfilled. He cried out, “O Lord, you induced me, and I was persuaded; you are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; everyone mocks me. For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, ‘Violence and plunder!’ Because the word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily” (Jeremiah 20:7-8, NKJV).

Jeremiah could not stop warning God’s people. Even though his prophecies seemed to be unfounded, he kept prophesying. No matter how incredibly it might rebound, America is still on the brink of a mighty crash. God has set his face against this nation for its bloodshed and arrogance against his name.

With all that, God’s praying people do not need to fear. Nor should we worry or fret. Our heavenly Father has everything under control. Although I see his judgments coming on our nation, I rejoice because I know what our Lord has promised in his Word. “He shall judge the world in righteousness, and he shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know your name will put their trust in you; for you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9:8-10)