Our world is a spiritual wilderness. We read today of when John the Baptist appeared on the scene and that he was a “voice crying in the wilderness” (Luke 3:4) – it was a spiritual wilderness then too, there had been no prophet from God for about 400 years – since the days of Malachi.

Today there has been no message from God that people have taken serious notice of since the Bible was translated and printed and became available in all major languages. This was at least 400 years ago. People “listened” to God’s “voice” then and the world underwent a spiritual reformation; but deafness set in again and more so with each generation until today, when nearly all are deaf.

We saw parallels with Ezekiel 7. The ten tribes that made up the northern kingdom of Israel, as distinct from Judah in the south, had become so wicked that they were all in the process of being taken away into captivity: the southern kingdom was soon to follow. However, God’s words through Ezekiel could be words to the majority today. No one was listening to Ezekiel – and few are seriously listening today.

“Behold the day! Behold it comes! Your doom has come” (verse 10) wrote Ezekiel, adding, “Violence has grown up into a rod of wickedness” (verse 11). He continues, “The time has come; the day has arrived. Let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn, for wrath is upon all …” (verse 12). “When anguish comes they will seek peace, but there shall be none. Disaster comes upon disaster …” (verses 25,26).

Thankfully, wonderfully, there is an end coming to the disasters that will multiply. Those who know God’s word and have established a relationship with Him, will know where to “seek peace” and that “the prince of peace” will return “and the government shall be upon his shoulder” (Isaiah 9:6) and “the wilderness” will be no more – but only those who have heard (by reading and thinking and believing) “the voice crying in the wilderness” will experience the everlasting wonders that “that day” will bring. Are you listening? What effect is it having on your heart?