When E.F. Hutton Talks: But What About God?

Many years ago there was a brilliant advertising campaign run for the brokerage firm E.F. Hutton. If you're not too young, you probably remember it. We were led to believe that when E.F. Hutton said anything, people listen. In this article I want to remind you of what the scriptures tell us about how we are to respond when God says anything.

Having just celebrated Easter, many of us are reminded about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But do you remember what happened after He rose from the dead? On the road to Emmaus, a small village about 7 miles from Jerusalem, the Bible describes a scene where two of Jesus' disciples are talking about what has taken place. They are dumbfounded, unable to truly understand the significance of their Lord's death.

They are just walking along, saddened by what has taken place, because they have not seen the resurrected Jesus - yet. As they are conversing, they are joined by a third man, the Lord Himself, who asks them why they are so sad. Remember, their eyes have not yet been opened to see that this is the resurrected Lord Himself.

The two disciples describe what has taken place and then Jesus goes on to share with them from the scriptures. He describes the punishment that the Christ must experience, directly from the Old Testament. "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24:27).

Jesus reveals Himself to the disciples. He reveals His plan. He reveals how all that has taken place was already spoken by God through the Prophets of the Old Testament.

We know that when E.F. Hutton speaks, people listen, but what about God? How are we to respond when God speaks? This passage from the Gospel of Like gives us a clear example to follow.

After Jesus had expounded upon the Scriptures, after He had spoken to the two disciples, they arrive at Emmaus and Jesus states that "He would have gone farther" (v. 28b). He states that He is ready to keep going beyond Emmaus. How the disciples react to this statement must be our food for thought. When God speaks, do we listen? Do we react? What do we do?

The Bible goes on to say that the two disciples "...constrained Him, saying 'Abide with us...' " (v.29a). Their reaction to Jesus' revelation was to draw closer to Him. They wanted Him to stay with them. The word abide means the same as 'dwell', they wanted Him to abide or dwell with them. Why? Because they knew that what He had, was all they needed.

When God speaks, do you listen? When God commands, do you obey? When God reveals, do you respond? When God leads, do you follow? When God guides, do you go?

Sure, it works for E.F. Hutton, but does it work in your life with God?