When a potential disaster is heading your way, you like to be warned ahead of time in order to take precautions against it. When a hurricane is headed to a populated coast, those living there want to be warned ahead of time so they can evacuate to a safer area. I live in an area that often gets tornadoes. My village has tornado sirens that go off when a tornado has been sighted. That warns us to immediately head to the basement or an inner closet. When there is a danger of war and bombings, sirens go off. There are tsunami warnings, wildfire warnings, etc. If those warning systems aren’t working right, or the person working them isn’t paying attention, they could be responsible for the consequences. However, if someone ignores the warning, their life is their own responsibility. Do you heed warnings when they are given? Today’s Scripture talks about warnings given, and whether they are heeded or not.
God has a warning He wishes to give to mankind. That message is to turn from their wickedness, turn to Him, accept the Lord Jesus as Savior, and they will then live eternally with Him in heaven. However, if they do not listen to His warning, if they choose to continue on in the way they have been going, if they reject the Lord Jesus and His Word, then their doom is their own fault and responsibility. The people, though, need the warning given to them. They need the watchmen to bring the warning, just like the watchmen in our Scripture, who stood upon the city walls watching for the approaching enemy.
Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and the other prophets and preachers, were spiritual watchmen. They sounded the warning that God would bring a sword on His people so that they had the opportunity to prepare and be safe. Today preachers and Bible teachers are to be the present day watchmen to bring the warning from God’s Word, urging people to take heed, and do what is necessary to save their eternal souls.
Right now as I write this, there is a very powerful hurricane, Hurricane Lee, out in the middle of the Atlantic. So far the meteorologists don’t believe it will hit the Caribbean Islands or the eastern coast of the U.S. However, if it were to suddenly change course, warnings would need to be issued. What would you think if they didn’t issue a warning? What if all they talked about were how beautiful white puffy clouds are? That would be terrible, as tens of thousands of lives would be at stake! That is the case with the preachers of today. They have a warning to give, one that the Lord God has given them. They are to warn the people of the coming Day of the Lord, of future judgment, and of salvation through the Blood of the Lord Jesus, yet so many just like to preach soft, warm, fuzzy messages that tickle the ears of the listeners. They are like the watchmen who see the sword coming but do not blow the trumpet.
Once the watchman warned the people, the responsibility passed to each person. They are now accountable for their own response to God. The prophet who warned was not judged. But the one who failed to deliver the message was held accountable. The preacher is to give a certain and sure message. When they speak God’s truth, what the people do with it is upon their own head. Those who do not respond, the loss of their soul is their own responsibility. The prophets of old, and the preachers and Bible teachers of today are not responsible for anyone’s response or lack of one. However, they are responsible to deliver the right message.
God, through His prophets, had faithfully warned the people of Israel, but by and large they did not pay attention. It’s no different today. Those preachers who remain true to God’s Word are sounding the trumpet, but how many are listening and heeding the warning? God has no pleasure in seeing the wicked go to eternal death in hell for their sins, but instead desires them to repent and live (vs. 10-11). There is forgiveness if people repent. God wants everyone to turn to Him, but so few do. We have the opportunity to turn to God if we take it. Those who do will be eternally secure. Those who don’t will die in their sins.
The watchmen have seen the danger approaching and have sounded the trumpet. The sirens are going off! Are you listening? Are you taking heed? The faithful watchmen will not be responsible for your response or lack of one. That responsibility is yours. Heed their warning and accept Jesus as your Savior today!
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