Sometimes, people just don’t want to listen to truth.
When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all these words of the LORD their God, with which the LORD their God had sent him to them… (Jer 43:1)
Slow down for a moment and think about that language. The LORD, the greatest reality in the universe, had a message for people who only existed because he willed them to exist. He sent Jeremiah with the message, and Jeremiah faithfully delivered the message.
When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all these words of the LORD their God, with which the LORD their God had sent him to them, Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie.” (Jer 43:1-2)
Sometimes, people just don’t want to listen to truth. Sometimes, they’ll be ugly to the messenger. Sometimes, it’ll go even further. Sometimes, it’ll cost the messenger everything…
…but will it really? Is the loss of a job, or a friendship, or a family connection “everything”? Is the loss of social standing in the eyes of people uninterested in truth “everything”? Is even the loss of one’s life “everything”?
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And
“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. (1 Pet 4:12-19)
Sometimes, people just don’t want to listen to truth. That can be hard, in the moment, on the messenger. But we ought not be surprised. The warnings and examples are thousands of years old.
So let’s be humble. Let’s be diligent in examining the Scriptures daily, entrusting our souls to our faithful Creator. Let’s be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Let’s be doers of the word, not hearers or sharers only.
And then? Let’s be unashamed to speak and stand upon God-defined truth, whether people are willing to submit to it or not.