Encountering a Prophet of Doom
As I settled into my seat on the crowded Sunday afternoon flight, I was looking forward to a quick nap before my evening speaking engagement in Atlanta. But my plans were quickly derailed by a fellow passenger who had other ideas.
An Uninvited Companion
This evangelist, who had taken the seat next to me despite being assigned another, was a force to be reckoned with. He was loud, boisterous, and determined to share his message with everyone within earshot. As I opened my Bible to review my thoughts for the evening, he pounced, asking what I was studying. But before I could respond, he launched into a tirade about the state of the church.
A Bleak Diagnosis
According to this self-proclaimed prophet of doom, the church was “hell bound and heartsick.” Christians, he declared, were lazy, rich, spoiled, and fat – and didn’t pray, love, or care. As he rattled off his list of woes, I felt my face growing hotter by the minute. The people around us were starting to stare, and I couldn’t help but feel defensive.
A Missed Opportunity
In the days that followed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should have said something in response. Something to counter his bleak diagnosis with a message of hope. And so, I’ve been thinking about what I wish I’d said to him…
The Faithfulness of God
God’s faithfulness has never depended on the faithfulness of his children. He is faithful even when we aren’t. Throughout history, he has used people in spite of their weaknesses and failures. Take the feeding of the five thousand, for example. Philip was cynical, Andrew was doubtful, and the other disciples were negative. But Jesus didn’t let their lack of faith hold him back.
A God Who Acts
When the disciples didn’t pray, Jesus prayed. When they didn’t see God, Jesus sought God. When they were weak, Jesus was strong. And in the end, he thanked God and divided the bread among the people. Rather than punishing the disciples for their lack of faith, he employed them, using them to distribute the bread they hadn’t even asked for.
A Reason to Hope
This story answers the question, What does God do when his children are weak? He acts. He intervenes. He provides. And he does it all despite our failures and weaknesses. This is what makes God, God.
A Message of Hope
So the next time you encounter a prophet of doom, remember: God is faithful even when his children are not. Don’t give up on the church. Don’t lose heart. Instead, look up, trust, and believe. For Christ has proven worthy, and he will never fail, even when we do.
Leave a Reply