You’ve Been Warned
We’re all acquainted with warnings. Surely, as a child, we remember one of our parents “giving us the eye”. For me, this was usually a promise that if my present activity didn’t cease Immediately, a spanking was forthcoming. I only pressed the issue with my dad a time or two and believe it or not, I finally came to an understanding when the ole ‘board of education was applied to the seat of learning’.
Some unheeded warnings won’t immediately result in harm, or cause pain, especially if the promised penalty is not administered. This is why our civil laws must be fairly and promptly enforced. If not enforced, the threat of punishment becomes void and chaos ensues. It is also sad when folks refuse to heed warnings, reject opportunities to change their lives for the better and even shun the Word of God. This is error that will follow them into eternity.
God’s Warnings have been being issued since shortly after the dawn of time. This started in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis chapter 3 the serpent brought the Command of God to the attention of the woman and lied to her about the consequences of breaking God’s Commandment about the trees in the midst of the Garden and what NOT to eat or touch. Of course, Satan, in the form of a serpent, defied God, tempted the woman, who ate it and then gave the fruit to her husband which also ate it. They had been warned. The penalty for failing to obey God’s Word had been given, and yes, God punished them, expelling them from the Garden. In this way, they were separated from God. This is spiritual death, as it is with all who remain in sin.
Of course, in time they would die physically, as is the way of mankind. However, one’s time in this life is so that we can be warned, decide if we will heed those warnings, and deal with earthly consequences of our decisions. But all need to be warned that the consequences of a life of sin, or not fully following ALL of the N.T. Commandments of God, will be fully realized after this life is over.
This is why God’s warnings to man have continued down through the ages. He loves all souls and according to 2Peter 3:9, doesn’t desire that any soul be lost (perish), but rather that they should come to repentance. Every warning requires action on the part of the one warned. For instance, we learn from 1Peter 3:20 that the consequences of NOT GETTING ON THE ARK was a certain death in the waters of the flood. If this passage is scrutinized carefully, we know these souls were also lost, because it tells us only “eight souls were saved by water”. This is also confirmed in Hebrews 11:7 where Noah and his house were saved by water and the world was condemned. What made the difference in the outcome was whether or not one heeded the warnings of God and followed His Commandments – (Get on the Ark).
As Paul met the Ephesian elders in Melita, in Acts 20:31, he reminded them of his warnings which were given for three years. He had told them of their responsibility to “feed the church” as overseers. He told them of dangers from within and without. Finally, the Spirit had Paul commend them to God and to His Word where all His Promises and His warnings are reserved for all to read and decide for themselves whether to heed or not.
We also learn from Colossians 1:27-29 that Paul made God and the mystery of the church known to souls who would listen through the preaching of the gospel. In preaching and teaching, he warned “every man” so they could have the opportunity to heed and obey God’s plan that they might perfect themselves in constant obedience and participate in the riches of His glory, or reject the warnings and suffer the consequences. This is still the reason faithful gospel preachers plead with their listeners today.
In 2Thessalonians 1:8-10 we have the Promise of God regarding those who refuse to initially obey as well as those who once obeyed, then become and remain unfaithful. We are warned here that those who are such, “shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord”, and that this will occur when the Lord returns to receive those that are His. These brethren (and we) are told this in 1Thessalonians 4:13-18. Christ will again leave the glories of Heaven, this time to receive the “dead in Christ” from Paradise, then those that are “alive and remain” who will undergo an instant change (1Corinthians 15:52) to meet Him in the air. All of these (and only these) shall ever be with the Lord.
The warning is clear. Fail to obey God – Fail to keep His Commandments – Fail to live faithfully in Christ, always striving to become more godly in full accordance with His rightly divided Word, – and one will surely, (according to the Promise of God), be punished everlastingly, ever separated from God and His glory. Sadly, many continue through life, refusing to accept God and His Word as the authority in life. In accepting man’s authority in religion, they ignorantly or willingly reject God’s clear warnings, seemingly unconcerned regarding the outcome or the impact it will have on their soul.
John 15:9-10 gives us Jesus’ teaching to His apostles, which also applies to all who are the children of God through obedience. Abide in God’s Love and show it by keeping all His Commandments, heeding His warnings, and do all you can to help others know of God’s plan to save their soul. All have been warned, but not all will heed the warning. Will you?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
