When we were children and there was a disagreement,
we eventually arrived at a point where one of us would caution
the other with the intimidating statement, "I'm warning you!"
Most of the time we never did figure out what the consequences
would be if one or the other did not cave in with absolute terror
at this statement because, normally, the warning was forgotten
about in a minute or two, and we went about doing the things that
children do.
As we open the Bible, we are almost immediately
brought face to face with the first recorded warning in the book
of Genesis, chapter two, verse seventeen: "But of the tree
of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Just before the Bible is closed, a last warning is issued: "And
if any man shall take from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out
of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this
book" (Revelation 22:19). Between these passages are a multitude
of warnings, each designed for man's benefit.
A favorite pastime of full-blooded American boys
growing up in Alabama was raiding old farmer so and so's watermelon
patch. Posted on the fence at every border of the patch was a
large sign with glaring red letters: "Warning DO NOT GO BEYOND
THIS POINT!" Now, guess what we did! Then, one day, as we
were exiting the field under the fence - rolling two watermelons
each - I looked up to notice two pairs of boots; one pair carried
my dad, while the other pair belonged to the owner of the watermelon
patch. That hot August day, long ago, I was given the aching,
all-inclusive definition of the word WARNING and what happens
when one disregards it!
God has given us ample warning and has given instruction
that this warning be continually issued through preaching His
Word. "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine"
(2 Timothy 4:2). Notice the example of Paul. After warning of
apostasy, he said, "Therefore watch, and remember, that by
the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night
and day with tears" (Acts 20:31). God is saying with an all-consuming
love, "I'M WARNING YOU." If we fail to take heed, we
will experience, first hand, the result of disregarding the warning
of hell. P.O. Box 985, Moundsville, WV 26041.