“Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them. (3-5)
Whenever we work for God we are hopeful that we will succeed. We typically enter into a new enterprise with zeal and a vision of success. Yet, Ezekiel was not given any such assurances. Later in this same chapter, the Lord tells him that the people will not listen and that they will threaten and harass him instead. Ezekiel was destined to face the same rejection from the people of God, that God had been facing from them since the very beginning. But, interestingly that was not the point. The point of Ezekiel’s ministry was to be faithful and to be “the prophet among them” so they would be without excuse. For Ezekiel, success was measured by his obedience and not by the number of Israelites who turned back to God.
That is a helpful reminder for all of us in the church today. Whether you are serving in a local church in the U.S., or a member of a church somewhere, or even serving the Lord overseas, you can expect opposition. There seems to be growing obstinance among the average “Christian” and a growing disregard for truth among those who are not believers. People who are fully committed to Christ and who allow Him to control every aspect of their life are in short supply. Amid growing apathy in some, and utter disdain in others, we have to continue to measure success in terms of our own obedience and faithfulness to the task. Sometimes it is not about turning the tide or winning the day; often it is just about showing up and being counted. If we are faithful to speak the truth in love, with the help of the Holy Spirit, then God will take care of the rest. Can everyday people look at your life and say, “someone who stands for God is among us?”
