The Man of God did not check his sources (1 Kings 13:18). Teaching God’s Word brings greater judgment to the teacher (James 3:1). A good preacher does not preach whatever may come up on his feed, nor whatever happens to cross his ears, nor whatever he may read. A good preacher —a gospel preacher—preaches what the Lord would have him to preach (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Moreover, a good preacher challenges his contemporaries, testing their message against the Bible (1 John 4:1).
The Man of God knew he was guilty, and accepted his fate (1 Kings 13:20-24). When the Lord spoke through the Prophet of Bethel, the Man of God’s response is rather curious. Did he sorrow? The Bible does not say so. Was he frightful? Again, Scripture is silent. Did he tremble, or was he stoic? There is no answer given. What is recorded for us is that “after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back.” (1 Kings 13:23). In other words, the Man of God appears to have kept chewing through his condemnation. Maybe, if he had stopped chewing and started praying, he would have been spared! As sad as it is, men seal their fate when they do not ask for pardon. As a preacher, do not go to your grave with your nose sticking in the air. Repent! If you are driving towards a cliff, then pump the brakes, turn around, and whatever you do, stop going head on! It is a poor preacher who refuses to change his ways and stop chewing on that which is condemnable.
The Man of God shared his fate with his fellowship (1 Kings 13:29-31). Though the souls to whom you preach may never obey, you should obey. You do not have to share the same fate with others, but those with whom you fellowship will share your fate (1 Cor. 15:33). Choose now who your friends are, because if you are not careful, you may be sharing their grave. Leave before it is too late, and guess what, sometimes, one conversation is too late. Such was the case with the Man of God. After just one conversation, one meal together, the Man of God was condemned to death, and the Prophet of Bethel buried him in his own tomb. Leave before it is too late.
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