Prophets
The LORD your God will raise up for you
a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen
to him. – Deuteronomy 18:15
In the past God spoke to our ancestors
through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days
he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and
through whom also he made the universe. – Hebrews 1:1-2
We think of prophets as those who lived in the times
of the Old Testament. They shared God’s words, proclaiming judgment and telling
the future. Could prophets exist today? Absolutely!
The dictionary defines prophet as an inspired teacher
or proclaimer of the will of God. These are not people who are clairvoyant.
They aren’t people from the devil. They are God’s servants, proclaiming God’s
Word.
Our pastor noted recently that there are many prophets
in the storm-ravaged areas of the Gulf Coast. There are many prophets in the
fire-decimated areas of California. There are prophets who work with the
homeless, those fighting depression, those suffering from illness and substance
abuse and violence. We don’t call them prophets but they are most definitely
teaching others about Jesus.
It’s the prophets’ job to help us see God’s grace. It’s
their job to point us toward hope in any and all circumstances. They help us
refocus on Jesus.
The Israelites, much like us, put their hope in what
they could see. Jesus told them they would be persecuted, that they would be
betrayed by those closest to them. He spoke of anguish and terror. He said that
heaven and earth will pass away but His words never will.
We don’t want to hear His words. We trust in our
homes, our families, our bank accounts. We are assured that we can handle
whatever happens. Until the day that everything is gone and our lives are
filled with destruction and pain.
The prophets come to remind us that though we have
suffered we can survive. The prophets tell us that God loves us and will
restore us. Prophets see Jesus in the worst of circumstances and steady us as
we struggle with shattered faith.
Life isn’t so much about the mistakes we make or the
circumstances that destroy what we once held dear as it is about how we cope with
those situations. We all make mistakes. And horrible things happen that are
beyond our control, like a wildfire or a hurricane.
How do you handle it? Do you avoid dealing with what
happened? Do you attack others, turn to drugs or alcohol, or become dependent
on another person or circumstance? Or do you pray and seek wise counsel? Do you
adapt to your new circumstances? Do you fill your life with friends and music
and exercise?
There are pastors and lay people who have flooded the
areas hard-hit by storms and fires. Some of them are victims themselves. They offer
real help in the form of food, shelter, clothing. But, more importantly, they
offer hope. They remind us that while Jesus never promised an easy life, He did
promise to be with us through every trial. Prophets remind us of the hope we
find in Him.
