Impending doom.
Once again, my friends, the world has begun to warn us of impending doom.
For some reason those who bring us these accounts of ever approaching danger nearly always do so with firm conviction, making it either the “Top Story” of the broadcast, or the singular focus of their YouTube offering, but then that next video, or by the end of the news broadcast, some form of elation, of happy news is offered.
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)
The media of course only presents what they are told to, staying to the script, reading from the teleprompter, fearful of losing their job. YouTube presenters speak of these same items, mostly in a complaining mode, whilst proudly displaying their plaque from YouTube for a high number of subscribers.
Double-minded, and therefore untrustworthy, each of them on different ends of the spectrum, both professing that the other is misrepresenting the truth.
“Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?” (John 18:38a)
In either scenario, they do not really care if you believe them or not, the purpose is to keep you guessing, to keep you confused, to cause some form of anxiety.
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1st Cor. 14:33)
To the world, the verification of known facts reveals truth, to those who have been born-again, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Word of God are our facts. Yet I find that many of those YouTube videos produced by those who profess to serve the Almighty do not focus on this truth, but instead follow the narrative of the day, offering to their viewers what the world is enthralled with at that specific time, while putting a “spiritual spin” on it.
They follow the world, the news of the day, perhaps because they know that many who serve Christ are also paying attention to it, perhaps because they believe they will gain more subscribers, some perhaps because they know that there is a possibility that they can draw their attention away from the impending doom and assist them on focusing on Christ instead of that world, but this also requires them to continue to follow the world themselves.
Are they double-minded as well?
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2nd Tim. 4:3)
We are to go into all the world, but we are not to be conformed to it. An addiction is not something that people cannot quit, it is something they will not quit, and for a man of God who is seeking for the lost and sent to encourage those who are of the family of the Living God who lays the foundation of his sermon, of his social media posts, of his presentation of the Gospel on worldly events must consider his intent.
It is called “bait and switch,” and it works well with those who need their ears tickled, with those who have no desire to endure, at least for any length of time, sound doctrine.
Men of God are not to give the people what they want to hear, they are to give them the truths of the Word of God.
“Thus saith the Lord,” not “Here is where the world is today.”
The next new thing should not be on his agenda, the tried-and-true promises and faithfulness of the Most High should be.
How many of you scour the internet hoping for a glimpse of the next account of impending doom, of the newsworthy story of the day? How much time do you spend in that world and how much time do you spend seeking the face of God.
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” (James 3:1)
I fear many who have been called to that high position have fallen into this most subtle trap, following the world in hopes of leading people to Christ.
