The Preacher's Pen

While doing research for this issue of Abundant Life I came across the sad story of a misguided "preacher" who told his flock the world was ending and God wanted them to go to Florida. So off they went, driving from the panhandle of Texas toward the Atlantic coast. Along they way they decided that money and clothes were possessed by the devil and so they threw them all away. As their cars ran out of gas, they just piled more people into fewer cars.

The entire ridiculous charade came to an end in a small town in Louisiana, when they attempted to steal a Winnebago because they were out of money and gas. The preacher just knew that God had given them this wonderful RV, but the owner (inside) thought otherwise. The police came and arrested the whole bunch for indecency, speeding, and an assortment of other charges. I believe their sad tale ended up with most of the charges being dropped but all of them having to head back home to west Texas to try and explain things to friends and relatives there.

We laugh at such lunacy, and roll our eyes in wonder that any could be so deceived. But we must remember: the people who followed this fellow went willingly. He did not hold a gun to their heads. They went because they believed him, and beyond that, because they wanted to believe him. His promises of the good life in Florida in the "new earth" were exactly what they were looking for. And so, with the blind leading the blind, they all fell into the ditch.

We would do well to examine carefully what we believe about the end times. False prophets and teachers are extremely active, and they use end time issues to get attention and attract followers. If we want to believe truth, we can. But if we want error, we will be deceived (2 Thess. 2:11). Let us purify our hearts and then desire the truth that studying God's word will lead us to.