At Least They Listened

by Dennis Ross

As a preacher, I am in a position that enables me to see the faces of those to whom I speak. Admittedly, because I’m focused on proclaiming the Word, I rarely "see" things that go on; nevertheless, at times I have noticed one thing in particular – some Christians pay no attention to the message being proclaimed. I am not talking about those who have to care for small children, or those with physical ailments that sometimes hinder their focusing on the lesson. I am talking about those who, it "appears", couldn’t care less. (And this lack of concern often manifests itself in their lives.)

Admittedly, it could very well be that the lesson is absolutely not worth hearing. However, on some occasions, brethren who remarked about how much they got from a lesson appeared to be getting absolutely nothing from it, because they couldn’t care less. Obviously, I cannot "read" the hearts of the listeners; but I certainly can "see" their reactions. Sadly, some who call themselves Christians do not pay attention to the message to which even Christ’s enemies "listened." Note for example, the following scriptures: Matthew 9:1-8; 15:1-12; 19:1-9; 21:23-46; 22:15-46. These enemies didn't accept Christ, but at least they listened.

It is written, "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil" (Ecclesiastes 5:1). ALL Christians ought to have that attitude; but they do not. Jesus spoke of those who were "more ready to hear:"

• "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
• "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15).

Some say, "I have heard it all before." Tell me, is there "new"scripture to which you would listen? That’s the problem: they are not content with God’s Word; they are always searching for something "new." With what did Paul, before God and Jesus Christ, charge Timothy?

• "Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (II Timothy 4:2-4).

Others say, "I am tired of hearing the same teaching over and over." Do you tire of eating? Do you tire of sleeping? Do you tire of playing your favorite games "over and over?" I am always encouraged when I see older, faithful Christians who never tire of hearing "the same old thing." They remind me of those of whom the prophet wrote in Nehemiah 8.

• "And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. … And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law" (Nehemiah 8:1,3).

Consider the apostle Peter’s words:

• "Wherefore, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; … Moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance" (II Peter 1:12-13,15).

And Peter ended the epistle: "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen" (II Peter 3:18). Are you growing?

We sing a song entitled, "Wonderful Words of Life." The first verse and the chorus declare, "Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of Life; Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of Life. Words of Life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty: Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of Life." If you sing this song, do you mean it? When Jesus withstood Satan’s temptation, He said, "… It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Sadly, some are not "living” because they are not "listening."

It is written, "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known My ways. So I sware in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; while it is said today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation" (Hebrews 3:7-15).

If hearing God's Word (Cf. Romans 10:17) produces belief, then not "listening" to God’s Word produces unbelief. "From that time, many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:66-69). Today, there are some who no longer "walk" with Jesus. Oh, they come to services, but seemingly, just to make sure their names are on an attendance list. How sad it is that they are not making the effort to have their names written in the Book of Life (Cf. Revelation 20:11-15). Is your name written there?

• “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
• “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
• “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
• “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:7,11,17,29).

Will you “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear” (Ecclesiastes 5:1). Dear reader, are you willing and prepared to listen to God? God has much to say to those who wish to feed on His word. The choice is ours – listen and learn or refuse and die.