Hear the Word of the Lord!

Hear the Word of the Lord!

“O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord!” Jer. 22:29. This was an urgent wake-up call by God that He called out in His deepest love. He loved them as the apple of His eye, and it was His desire to make the earth very glorious for them. But everything had to go according to God’s Word. It is amazing that it has always been difficult to accept the Lord’s Word and live according to it, even though they are the only words that lead to glory—both in this life and then for all eternity.

“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Heb. 4:7. It has always been the easiest and the most natural thing to harden oneself against God’s Word. One has ears, but does not hear; eyes, but does not see. Disobedience to God’s Word has always led to misery and chaos, whereas obedience has led to abundant blessings. This was evident in the old as well as in the new covenant.

Millions of people listen to God’s Word daily in churches and meeting halls, over the radio and television; but most of them remain the same, year in and year out—in spite of what they have heard. They do not come to a new birth or transformation to a new life in covenant with the Word of the Lord. “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Isa. 53:1. His arm is revealed to all those who hear, believe, and obey. Some of them are mentioned in Hebrews 11.

God wanted to have Israel as a glorious vineyard for Himself. He did everything necessary that it might be a fruitful garden, but it only produced worthless grapes. Isa. 5:1-2. God’s kingdom was taken away from them and given to a people producing the fruits of it. Matt. 21:43. The people of the new covenant have been chosen to proclaim His virtues—the virtues of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Pet. 2:9. In the new covenant everything is prepared so that the church might be a glorious vineyard producing fruits for eternity.

However, even today it is evident that it is very difficult to accept the Lord’s Word about obedience and faithfulness. Many people rejoice when they hear the message about the forgiveness of sins, but they are not willing to hear anything about following in Jesus’ steps, taking up their cross, denying themselves, and following Him. 1 Pet. 2:21-23; Luke 9:23. Paul had to say with tears that many had become enemies of the cross of Christ—that same cross which they were to take up over their own self, their own “I.” Their belly was their god, they gloried in their shame, and they desired earthly things. Phil. 3:17-19. The sad fact is that almost all of Christendom falls into this category, and on top of that, they do not believe that it can be otherwise. Unfortunately, the preaching they hear supports this unbelief.

The Sermon on the Mount is a mighty wake-up call to the fact that only those who hear these words and do them build their house on the rock. Matt. 7:24-27. Jesus called out to the seven churches in Revelation that all those who had ears had to be certain to hear that there were no promises for those who did not overcome. This is what the Spirit spoke to them. Paul called out, “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin!” 1 Cor. 15:34.

Unfortunately, only a few have taken such calls to righteousness to heart.

In Acts 16:13-15 we read that many women assembled by the riverside for prayer. The apostle spoke to them, but there was only one woman named Lydia who heard as she was meant to hear. And the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. “But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear . . . .” Matt. 13:16.

We can hear to our own condemnation or to our salvation. Let us choose the latter because that results in happiness, both in this life as well as for all eternity. What have we done with all the glorious words we have heard at meetings, during conferences, at Bible studies, or other gatherings? God’s Word has dwelt richly among us.

In James 1:21-22 we read this exhortation: “Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” They were exhorted to receive all the words that were implanted; only then could these words save their souls. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21. We may have accumulated a lot of knowledge about His laws and commandments, but only when we live them out in daily life will the blessings, together with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, flow into our life.

How is it in your life when it concerns always overcoming evil with good, forgiving and forgetting, loving everyone, always rejoicing in hope and being thankful for all things, executing righteousness, speaking the truth, showing mercy, not judging, not having evil and suspicious thoughts, etc., etc.? We are to listen so that every word becomes spirit, life, and light that radiates out from us in all of life’s situations.

Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” He heard so well that he spoke as the mouth of God. Not one of his words fell to the ground.