The Truth or the Tickling?

"Many today attempt to find "truth," but only accept the one that does not interfere with the way they wish to live. The dogma of Christianity is too restrictive for many to accept. Therefore, they search for a truth that is comfortable and appealing." -- Brian Flynn; "Running Against the Wind." The Apostle Paul occasionally quoted pagan poets and philosophers of his day [Aratus and Cleanthes -- Acts 17:26; Epimenides -- Titus 1:12]. One of my favorite pagan poets said it this way: "Still, a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest." -- Paul Simon, "The Boxer," 1970. The Prophet Isaiah noted of his own countrymen 700 years B.C.: "This is a rebellious people . . . children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us SMOOTH THINGS." And Paul, himself, said the day would come when "they will not endure ("put up with") SOUND DOCTRINE" (which simply means, trustworthy teaching that imparts spiritual health and well-being). Instead, they will elevate and flock to teachers who "tickle their ears" (teachers who tell them just what they love to hear, whether it lines up with the Truth or not). Reminds me of my pooch-dog, Sherlock (or, "Sherlockian the Dogathon" for short), who comes over sometimes and nuzzles me, because he likes me to massage his little canine headbone, right behind the ears, in my own, inimitable way. Turns him right into 22 pounds of smelly, furry, melted doggy butter. That scriptural foretaste of the future is found in II Timothy 4:1-4, and, just like every genuine prophecy of God, IT IS GOING TO COME TRUE. In fact, the well known Bible teacher, Warren Wiersbe, said WE ARE ALREADY LIVING IN THOSE DAYS. What's especially interesting to me is Dr. Wiersbe said that back in 1969, when he was a young pastor leading his first church!! Oh, my dear friends: Let's NOT be the people that prophecy describes. Let's be of "another spirit" (like Caleb --Numbers 14:24) Let's be, every one of us, the "more noble-minded" Bereans that Paul and Silas encountered in Acts 17:11, who "received the Word with all readiness of mind (picture a "rushing forth" in eagerness for the Truth), and searched the scriptures DAILY, whether those things were so." The sands of time keep on trickling into the bottom half of that glass. And we don't get to flip the thing over and start again once the top has finally emptied out. Psalm 90:12.