When we hear a warning, we react in one of two ways. We ignore it, or we make adjustments in our behavior. For instance, you may hear a warning about a coming storm. This happened to me last week. I responded by doing nothing. But when the warning came that the weather bureau had changed the warning to a tornado warning, my behavior changed. I moved to the basement until the danger was over.
The scriptures are full of warnings. Remember Noah? God warned Noah in Genesis 6:13, “The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (KJV). Then God continued with His instructions to Noah on how to build a boat to save him and his family from the impending flood. Noah had a choice to either build the boat or ignore God’s warning. What would you have done?
Remember Lot? Lot was the nephew of Abraham and had travelled with him and Sarah toward a land that God would show them. Lot had a disagreement with Abraham along the way, and he moved his herds and herdsmen and dwelled in the cities of the plain. “He pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12).
Sodom was a wicked city, and God determined to destroy it. In chapter 19, God sent angels to the city to save Lot and his family. The angels gave Lot a warning, “Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city” (Genesis 19:15). But the warning didn’t get the immediate reaction God intended. Verse 16 says that Lot lingered, and he had to be compelled by the angels to get him and his family out of the city before God destroyed it. Even as they fled, and even though the angels had warned them not to turn around, Lot’s wife looked back. Her punishment was that she was turned to a pillar of salt. Would you have had to be pulled away from the sin of the city to safety?
In Luke 16, Jesus told a story about two men, a rich man and a man named Lazarus. Lazarus laid at the gate of the rich man’s house hoping to receive some crumbs, but the rich man had no compassion on him.
As time passed, both men died. Lazarus went to a place of comfort, and lay in the bosom of Abraham. The rich man went to a place of punishment where he was tormented in flames of fire.
The rich man begged for relief. He begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers so they would not end up in such a terrible place. Abraham’s response is found in verse 31, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead”. Would you have ignored Lazarus and failed to see the warning signs?
Jesus offered many warnings while He was on earth. His time on earth was spent warning people that they should be obedient to His Father. You can read His warnings and teachings in the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Those same men taught His message of obedient faith to anyone willing to listen. They continue to do that today through the written word.
The apostle Paul gives us a warning. He says in I Thessalonians 5:2, “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (ESV).
These people were Christians, having obeyed the commands taught them by the apostles. They knew what to do, but they had to be reminded of the things they needed to do to stay faithful. Paul did this by reminding them that when Christ comes back to claim His own, there will be no warning. He will just come. There won’t be time for them to change their evil ways.
Many times I have heard people say, “I’m going to change. I know I need to start living right, but I am just not ready.” Sadly, they may be like Lot’s wife or like the rich man. They may wait too late to change and serve God.
God’s warnings are clear. We can find them in the New Testament. We can’t afford to wait less we not be considered one of the faithful.
Sandra Oliver