18 December 2024
Confusion. I find this happening way too often these days. I’ll be in the middle of a task and someone will ask me something that takes my attention away enough that I either struggle to come back to task or get off track completely. The other people aren’t the culprits. There are other factors, like tiredness, lack of planning, or proper use of the resources I have. In short, I am largely to blame for my confusion, if blame is to be placed.
Isaiah paints such a picture of the Israelites, though he flatly accuses their leaders for causing the confusion. He even calls the prophets a horses rear end. Okay, he says tail, but the descriptor is the same. It is not wholly the leaders and prophets that are to blame, however, as each person is responsible as they seek their own wills rather than turning their attention to God. Yet, the larger responsibility does fall to the leaders. Peter identifies false prophets as those who bring in destructive opinions, denying who the true authority is in people’s lives. Any opinion or proclamation that draws people away from the simple truth of Christ’s centricity in their lives is false, in short. John Baptizer gives us a profound contrast, as his words point to none other than ‘the One who is more powerful,’ of whom he is not even worthy of cleaning off His shoes. He points to the One who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, not from the outside in, but from our hearts. That Spirit brings all truth. The false prophet points away from truth to made-up opinions about godliness and living.
Years ago, when deciding whether to pursue a ministry opportunity or not, I found myself in a state of deep confusion. I remember the prayer well, “Lord, you are not the author of confusion, so I will say ‘no,’ knowing that you will open the door wide if it is meant to be a yes.” My ‘no’ translated into another opportunity a few months later that became a 37-year journey in ministry. We need to be willing to say ‘no’ to things that seem good, but bring us confusion. Sometimes this will break our hearts. We’re in good company, for what prophet had an easy time of it. Heartbreak is part of the journey with Jesus. Silence as you walk beside him is the answer to those times of confusion. Let Jesus do the talking. Oh, and be patient, for the Lord knows how much time it will take to lead you out of the fog.