Noise in the Camp
In 1st Samuel, chapter 4, the Bible tells the story of a group of people who thought they were holy and even scared their enemies into thinking they were, but soon found out they weren’t. When the battle began they were making the noise that sounds spiritual but had no spiritual depth. And when they had a great need for God to help them, they found out He is not there to assist them. These people believed they could just turn to God regardless of how they’d been living and that He would rescue them just because they were “His people.” They wrongly thought they were in good standing with God.
I would say it is safe to say that this is still happening in churches whose doors are open with people hearing of God, thinking they are okay but having no spiritual power or authority. They are only making noise. There are today many who make much noise about their relationship with God. If you were to walk into their church, the sound would surely convince you these people are holy. But the acid test will always be when they have to face their enemies, their trials, or sickness. One way or another, we all, at times, will be tested in how close you and God are.
It is at these crucial times we have to face reality. But it is not a bad thing because if we realize there’s a problem, God is willing to help us fix it. That is, if we don’t ignore it. When we entertain sin, the Spirit of God exits away from us. It’s the same way today as back then; if people neglect God, He will leave them alone. I’m concerned that one day soon the real church (God’s truly devoted people) will vanish, but there’s still going to be people left in the camp that thought they had the power of God, but were only noisemakers.
There is a real hell, and today many don’t believe this anymore. There is a real devil, but many are deceived into believing that he is only some kind of fairy tale or someone they can play with. The holy things of God are not so holy to most people any longer. The church has to wake up to the facts that the days are growing evil, and God’s still God if you’ll stick with Him.
Check around your camp. You don’t have to be perfect to walk with God, but you must stay in the willingness to be obedient, to walk as He asks, and no enemy from hell can ever get you away from His care.