In Jeremiah, chapter twenty-five, verse three, “From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the Lord hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.” Jeremiah had preached earnestly for twenty-three years, but the people had not listened; he had exhorted them to turn from their idols and from their sinful ways, but they had remained obstinate. God had even sent other prophets to warn Judah, as in verse four, “And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.” Among the people of God were God’s servants Urijah, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk.
Jeremiah’s experience underscores the truth that no matter how faithful in witnessing to the saving gospel of Christ, some will refuse to heed God’s Word, resulting in their own destruction. Furthermore, in the last days, those in the church who remain faithful to God and His Word will be grieved as they see many abandon Biblical faith and God’s righteous standards.
Today, sadly, there are very few Biblical churches that have God-abiding servants who allow the presence of God to flow and manifest where the Holy Spirit dwells with faithful believers who are proven to live godly lives. However, there have been Christians who attend these churches but decided to go elsewhere due to the Holy standards and the Word given through the servants of God when attending. “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,” as in Second Timothy four, verse three.