Ears Turned Away by Isaac D. Van Horn

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 9, 1882

Ears Turned Away.

By Isaac D. Van Horn

BY ELD. I. D. VAN HORN.

"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; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim. 4:3, 4.

Sometime in the Christian age this prophecy is to have a literal fulfillment. It is not hard to determine the time, for the last days are expressly mentioned in the first verse of the previous chapter. We are informed that "perilous times shall come" in the last days. But they will not be perilous so much by famine, pestilence, and the sword, as by a departure from the truth, a corrupt character, and the denying of the power of godliness. 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

This will fully prepare the way for nominal professors to reject sound doctrine, and make choice of such teachers as will please their ears, rather than reprove their wrongs. They shall heap to themselves teachers, yet at the same time follow their own lusts. These teachers will tickle their itching ears with fancy sketches fabulous harangues and essays full of high-sounding words.

God's servants are called upon to "Preach the word;" to reprove and rebuke. But this will not be endured. The ease-loving professor does not want his conscience troubled. He wants to enjoy the world, and be popular, and at the same time belong to the church. So the church becomes popular and pleasing, and the members feel at ease.

Now let some servant of God lift up his voice, proclaim the truth, give meat in due season, and the heaps of teachers are ready to turn away the ears of the people that they may not hear. Say they, "Don't go to hear them. They are illiterate and ignorant, and you will lower your dignity to hear or in any way countenance them." Thus their ears (not their hearts) are turned away from the truth.

Is this not the reason why in our day there are so few willing to hear the precious present truth? Can we expect large congregations? We must school ourselves to keep our courage and be just as earnest and faithful in preaching to the few as to the many. There were but eight souls saved in the ark. The last days will be as the days of Noah at the flood. There will be many ears open to hear the vanities and follies of earth, but only a few open to hear the truth. Servants of God, go forth and be strong. Rescue the perishing. Save all in your power, even pulling them as brands from the burning.