“All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” (Edmond Burke)
“The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” (Albert Einstein)
Ezekiel prophesied about the ones marked by God would “sigh and cry over the abominations” of the land. Those that stand by passively are slain. I believe these words speak as a clarion call today. If you discern, really discern, what the enemy has been allowed to do through the indifference of the “church,” you would “sigh and cry.” I’m sure your heart would break for the people caught in the snare of sin and death. I’m sure you would bemoan the compromise, bloodshed, and idolatry in the land. All we need to do is open our eyes. Sin and wickedness is brazen all around us. What will you do? Will you stand passively by or be part of the solution? There is power in tears. There is power in trumpeting the warning call of truth in love!
In the midst of evil, we must keep our eyes on our King. Jesus is preeminent, He is still on the throne. If we fail to keep our focus on Him, we can become overwhelmed with what the enemy is doing. This can lead to discouragement and deep depression. We cannot be effective “light” in the midst darkness if we fail to keep connected to our Life Source – Yeshua. We need to be full of Life to “make up the hedge and stand in the gap before God for the land” as intercessors and voices crying out!
Heed this warning from the Lord.
The Book of Ezekiel says:
“He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. 2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar… 4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. 5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house… 8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? 9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.”(Ezek. 9:1-9)
“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. 25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. 28 And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. 29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezek. 22:23-31)
We have a King that sees everything and is more grieved over sin and the abominable acts then we are. Why? Because these acts are destroying God’s original design for family and violating love. There is judgment coming for the wicked. (Ps. 94) Our mandate is to hold the line of love by the grace of God. Preach the gospel of the kingdom and make disciples in the midst of darkness. We would do well to resist evil, trumpet the truth, and earnestly pray. God calls us to “sign and cry” over the sin of the land; make up the hedge: repair and build; and stand in the gap intervening and interceding before God for souls.
