The summer of 2018 is bringing a severe drought to southern Ontario, Canada. Farmers are expressing their concerns about the possibility that there is going to be a partial, if not total crop failure of the various types of grains which are grown in this area: corn, soybeans, and wheat. Their growth is stunted, and even with a good rainfall, there is the general feeling that they will not recover. Commercial vegetable growers have the same worry. Almost everywhere, the grass in the lawns is brown from the lack of moisture. News reports tell us about really high temperatures all across the northern hemisphere.

In northern Ontario and British Columbia, Canada, and in the USA, Greece, and Sweden, as well as in other places, there are immense forest fires burning thousand of square kilometres of forests. Homes are being threatened or have been consumed by these fires. There is loss of life in various places. All of this is because of a severe drought.

But in many places, there is also a drought when it comes to hearing the Word of God. Many churches and denominations are becoming focussed on social justice issues and God's love for everyone, to the exclusion of preaching the gospel of Jesus crucified for the forgiveness of our sins. What bothers me as much as anything is that so many people appear to be satisfied with this.

The prophet Amos told us that this was going to happen:

Amos 8:11 – "The days are coming," declares the Sovereign Lord, "when I will send a famine through the land — not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord." (NIV)

Paul also mentioned it:

2 Timothy 4:3-4 – For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (NIV)

There is the danger that the drought of the Word of God in so many places is stunting the growth of the Christian church and is causing it to decline and lose its effectiveness. We need to pray fervently that the Word of God will be brought to all who want to hear. Just as we know that the rains will come some day, so we also know that Jesus Himself gave the promise that the gospel eventually must be preached to everyone.

Matthew 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (NIV)

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we pray that there will be a change in people's hearts, that the true gospel of Jesus will be preached, and that many will hear, understand, and believe. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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