Too Late

            Jeremiah chapter fourteen, verses fourteen through sixteen contain a truth which is bound to be bitter for many people.  False prophets had been prophesying their lies for quite some time, and even though both Ezekiel and Jeremiah were challenging their lies and confronting the people with the truth, these false prophets had won the acceptance of the people.  This same problem is seen in the world today when false teachers teach a ‘sweeter’ message that is well received by the people instead of the true gospel of Christ.  Paul condemned the teaching or learning of “any other gospel” in Galatians 1:8-9.  James also warns all teachers to use extreme caution and good judgment because of the grave responsibility teaching entails (James 3:1).  James says that  teachers receive the ‘greater condemnation’ because they are not only responsible for themselves, but also bear some of the burden of their students.  However, that also means there remains a ‘lesser condemnation’, but upon whom would it be passed?  Certainly, it will fall upon those who hear, believe and tolerate the lies!  Acts 17:11 shows that people who are noble before God will search the Scriptures to see whether or not those things which they learn are true.  In so doing, they will find the truth, and the truth will set them free (John 8:32).  However, as for the people in the fourteenth chapter of Jeremiah, verse sixteen furthermore states that they will endure punishment and destruction for tolerating lies and sin.  What a warning this sets forth to the religious people of our day!  Every person is responsible to know the truth, and if they fail to, then they will be destroyed because of their lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6), along with all those who promote and tolerate religious error!  May all people give ‘more earnest heed’ to the things that they hear so that they will not slip (Hebrews 2:1)!