“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15
The phonograph cylinder was invented by Thomas Edison in 1877, and is believed to be the first practical sound recording and reproduction device. Eventually disc phonographs led to vinyl LP records, followed by magnetic 8-track tapes and then cassette tapes. Finally, the invention of digital audio led to the Compact Disc, and then to a variety of audio file formats, most notably, the mp3. One of the great advantages of having digital audio at our fingertips is the possibility of listening to sermons online. In fact sermonaudio.com claims to host 1,858,014 sermons, which would keep a person occupied for at least 900,000 hours of listening (or 106 years)! But one of the great disadvantages of having digital audio at our fingertips is the far greater possibility than ever before, of being exposed to false prophets.
There are many who claim to preach Jesus, but they a pursue a “Jesus Culture” that is far from the gospel as presented in Scripture. Many proclaim that God wants you healthy and wealthy in this life, and that all you need to do, is proclaim it with faith, and it will be given you! “Claim healing, claim wealth, claim luxury – all of this is yours if only you believe it!” Others mock the truth of God pouring out His wrath against our sin upon His own Son, as an “antiquated notion” that they call Cosmic Child Abuse!
But the ultimate problem behind poverty, and sickness, and loneliness and every other dilemma in this world is the problem of sin! And thank God that Jesus did not come to just bring relief of poverty or sickness, for a few short years between the cradle and the grave. Jesus came to deal with the greatest problem – the enmity between God and man as a result of sin! He came to endure the wrath of God against sin – so that we might have an eternal hope!
The false prophets that Jesus warns us of look like sheep. They talk of Jesus, and they may sound sweet as they invite you to claim whatever you wish in Jesus’ name! But inwardly, they are ravenous wolves! They wilfully ignore the great problem of sin, and so reject the greatest news this world has ever received, the true gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! Beware of them!