FROM WHERE I STAND - November 17, 2001

After the Munich Summit of 1938, Adolph Hitler got what he wanted, Czechoslovakia and a very secure, defensible buffer zone to protect his nation, as they built their war machine, ready to strike out across Europe.

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain also got what he wanted, a shallow promise from Hitler for peace and the chance to tell his nation "peace in our lifetime." Sadly, within a year Hitler launched his attack against Poland and Chamberlain resigned in humiliation. 47 million people lost their lives and the geographical alignment of Europe was changed forever.

It was during this dark time that Prime Minister Winston Churchill returned to the political scene to assure the role of Britain's government and guide them to victory. Several years earlier, "Winnie" had left political life because his view of a possible war looming on the horizon and how to deal with that war was considered to be hawkish and conservative. How funny life's fortunes turn.

The prophet Jeremiah faced the same problem, just as his predecessors and those who would follow him, warning of danger ahead. Will we ever cease to wonder at the panorama of history that has shown us American leaders warning of a surprise attack on U.S. naval forces at Pear Harbor, “one balmy Sunday morning", nearly two decades before it happened?

Jeremiah warned his people that G-d's judgment was coming, although it did not happen for 49 years. It got to the point where he was hated, rejected and even placed in prison. The people of Jeremiah's time, six hundred years before Jesus and Paul's warnings, heeded the Neville Chamberlain of their day a false prophet named Hananiah. He challenged Jeremiah's stern warning in chapter 28 and replied, "Then Hananiah, the prophet, took the yoke from the prophet Jeremiah's neck and brake it. And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the L-rd: Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way." Jeremiah 28: 10,11.

I'm sure those who heard Babylon would not be an oppressor were soothed by the message of the false prophet and jeered at Jeremiah. It would also be safe to say like Churchill, people said Jeremiah was too much of a conservative, too skeptical and pessimistic.

Yet, the scripture tells us Jeremiah would smash the wooden yoke and then declare under inspiration of the Holy Spirit that Israel's yoke would not be wooden but iron instead and Babylon would be given the beasts of the field as well. Jeremiah 28:13, 14.

We are seeing this pattern repeated again today in modem history, as the events of the world show that people do not want to hear G-d's Word. If a prominent religious leader states that the events of September 11, 2001 are a warning from G-d to repent, a barrage of comments comes from the false prophets and their followers. Just as Chamberlain said, "peace in our lifetime," today's Christian message seeks to throw off the yoke of pending judgment, so we are today doing the same thing.

The pastor in the pulpit, or the members of the congregation must be ready, willing and able to hear the words of G-d's true servants and be able to respond accordingly. If and when G-d's Spirit moves on true prophets, the spirit of humility and repentance must be our guideline, so that we will hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

The 28th chapter of Jeremiah closes with Jeremiah denouncing the message of the false prophet who had made people to believe a lie, was cast off from the L-rd and would die because he taught rebellion against the L-rd. Jeremiah 28:15-17. Not only did the false prophet die, but also Jeremiah's prophecy came true with uncanny accuracy. The challenge goes out to the church; be sober, be vigilant, and have an ear to hear what the Spirit saith to the church. Don't attempt to throw off the yoke, but rather ask G-d to show you where you fit into His plan.