Hi Friend,

There was a time when a man named Isaiah had a profound revelation from God. In our vernacular, we might say, ‘The light bulb came on!’ Isaiah had such strong faith in God that he realized this was an earthshaking message meant by God to change the world and save what remained of God’s chosen people. Filled with urgency he hurried to deliver this message of salvation.

However, about the time his hand touched the door latch, God stopped him and said, "By the way, they won’t listen."

This surprising turn raises questions for believers and causes frustration: Why would God send a prophet whom He loved to deliver a message that He knew no one would hear? Why would He even send such a message if He knew that the people would ignore it?

Isaiah likely had the same question. It’s the common frustration of a prophet: Why won’t people listen, and why does God speak to people whose minds are closed?

Similarly, another Prophet, Ezekiel, lived in a time like ours and faced the same challenge. "Mortal man," he said, "you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they see nothing; they have ears, but they hear nothing, because they are rebellious (Ezekiel 12:2 GNB).

Ezekiel described a time much like ours—signs of trouble are everywhere. How did America arrive at this point, and where are we headed? We need direction from God. Yet how can people receive guidance from someone whose existence they do not believe in?

Consider, for example, actor and writer Ben Stein, who was invited to be the commencement speaker at the University of Vermont. The University President, Daniel Fogel, later withdrew the invitation, citing Stein’s views on evolution, intelligent design, and the role of science in the Holocaust as too controversial.

Catch that last phrase, "the role of science in the Holocaust." If the first two phrases weren’t appalling enough, the last highlights Dr. Fogel’s view on whether science was complicit in the Holocaust. However, some argue that scientists collaborated with Hitler to design gas chambers as more efficient killing machines. Another doctor, Josef Mengele, the Angel of Death, was the university-educated architect of the process. Did his scientific training omit an essential part of the educational instruction?

Fogel went on to express penance for inviting Stein by claiming that "Commencement should be a time when our community gathers inclusively, not divisively." This statement aimed to shift the conversation toward unity, following the troubling historical associations mentioned earlier.

It is interesting that, while about 90 percent of the country believes in God, it is considered divisive for an academic institution to even discuss the possibility that God created the world. This suggests that a small minority may be causing division.

This division in belief brings to mind the words of Jesus to his followers, "Listen, then, if you have ears! Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group shouts to the other, 'We played wedding music for you, but you wouldn't dance! We sang funeral songs, but you wouldn't cry!'" (Matt. 11:15-17).

How many times did Jesus say, "If any man have ears to hear let him hear"? No other human being has had a more profound and positive impact on the world than Jesus. More than any other man, Jesus changed civilization for the better. Scientists, on the other hand, sometimes make more noise than sense.

There are reasons that God does it this way. When punishment arrives, as it surely will, people will look toward the One who has ultimate power. Some people only learn through suffering. Parents often share the same experiences when disciplining their children.

Second, some people will repent. Even in the book of Revelation, there is a description of God’s wrath which will be so excruciating that people will gnaw their tongues for pain and still not repent. However, it is essential to note that, despite this description, some individuals will still choose to repent.

Finally, there is that small group called the Elect. They look at the words of Isaiah and listen. If you are reading this, your heart has been moved by the words of Isaiah and Ezekiel. It is because of those who believe and repent that God will intervene to save creation—like He did with Noah.

Until next time,