Jump Start # 989

Psalms 19:11 “Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

Living in Indiana presents weather warnings throughout the year. In the spring, it’s tornado warnings. In the winter, there are ice and snow warnings. The forecast for this weekend is looking ugly. Warnings are already being posted. Rain, ice, snow—it’s coming. Smart folks know how to live with these warnings. There will be a rush on at gas stations and grocery stores today. Stock up and hunker down is what Hoosiers are accustomed to in the winter. Smart drivers will leave earlier so they can have plenty of time. They will drive slower than the speed limit. Dumb drivers act like it’s a sunny June day and they are the ones who are usually off the road in a ditch. Paying attention to warnings is vital to safety. Friends that live in Florida understand the seriousness of hurricane warnings.

The Bible also has warnings. These are not about weather but the things that can damage our souls. Multiple times in the Gospels Jesus used the expression, “Beware,” or “Watch,” or, “Take heed.” Those warnings are serious. The wise will pay attention to those warnings. Jesus cares for His people. As a shepherd watching out for the sheep, so Jesus is watching out for us. The careless and the proud will ignore these warnings. They will rush into things that are dangerous, thinking that they can handle anything. So many who do that become affected and often ruined because of the dangers they ignored.  God knows what He is talking about. We must trust Him, believe Him, and listen to Him.

Satan is out to get us. He will disguise things and present things as innocent when they are not. It doesn’t take much poison to ruin a soul. Just a twist of the truth here, just a little toe over the line there and those who are not paying attention are caught in his trap and they never saw it coming. That very idea is used in Proverbs 7 of the naïve young man walking down the wrong street at the wrong time of the day and talking to the wrong person. An immoral woman catches him, persuades him, and like a bird that is caught in a trap, so this young man is snared in the clutches of sin. It happens so fast. It happens without a person seeing it coming, so it seems. But all along, there are warning signs. Each step closer to the edge is a step away from God and a step that has ignored warnings.

Consider a couple of thoughts here:

1. Be careful what you read. Because a book is sold in a religious bookstore does not mean it is good, helpful or even accurate. Read everything with a critical eye. Read with a knowledge of God’s word in your background. Know something about the author. Where is he on the map of things? What does he believe? A book recommended by a friend still must be read carefully. Too many buy into things that modern man has written and by doing so they have tossed out what the Bible says. Can’t do that. Heed the warnings.

2. Be careful how you conduct yourself around those of the opposite sex. Too many married people flirt around with others, thinking it’s just innocent teasing and fun. Don’t be so naïve. Heed the warnings. The first steps that lead to adultery begin with co-workers and friends being too friendly and sharing too much information with each other. Some things are no one else’s business. Some things belong to our mate and no one else. So you appear as dull to others. So you come across as being a stick in the mud to others. You are protecting your marriage and your soul. Being alone with someone you are not married to can be extremely dangerous. Every spring in Indiana, while the tornado warnings are blaring through the neighborhoods, and most sane people are rushing to their basements for cover, there is always some fool who goes outside to see if he can see the tornado. Dumb. Dangerous. Most can understand that. Why is it that they can’t see the danger of texting, facebooking and sharing private info about feelings, sex, desires with someone they are not married to? Dumb. Dangerous.

Warnings are there to help us. When the red light on your dashboard comes on, or your gas light comes on, you can ignore it—but if you do, you’ll be walking instead of driving. Your car will be sitting along side of the road dead. Pay attention to warnings. Look at them with careful eyes. Understand them.

If you have never done this before, it would be good to go through the N.T. and list the “beware” passages and the “watch” verses, and the “take heed” verses. List them on a piece of paper. Look at them. Understand why God is warning us.

Those that pay attention to warnings will do fine. Those that don’t, usually are in a mess. That is true of winter weather warnings and spiritual warnings.

Roger