Warning! Warning! Warning!
Do you remember Robot, on the "Lost In Space" TV series? Whenever danger approached, the Robot would light up and sound the alarm. His job was to protect the Robinson family and the others on the space ship.
It would be good if we had such warning signals and alarms to warn us of danger. Yet we have warnings all around us. There are signs all around us warning of various dangers. There are labels on many products giving a warning to those who might choose to use those products. Yet while we might consider those who ignore the warnings to be foolish, or just down right dumb, it is amazing how many choose to ignore the warnings. We read of those who thought they could get around the railroad crossing arms and beat the train. We read of people using ladders around electric lines, and getting electrocuted. Of course those who are young and cannot read must rely upon others to watch the warnings and keep them safe. How often do we hear of a toddler drinking some cleaning solution that carries a poison label? Some warnings are bold, and some are subtle, but they are warnings none the less.
People smoke cigarettes and other things. There are warnings that if you smoke you run a very high risk of getting cancer in your lungs. Yet cigarette sales still remain high. Drinking and then driving can cause you harm, but more importantly, you can harm others. And this has happened all too often on our roadways. Most accidental deaths in this country can be attributed to the fact that people just ignored the warnings. Is there a reason that people do not heed the warnings all around us? Yes; notice what Jeremiah wrote:

Jeremiah 6:10 To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.

Jeremiah learned a long time ago the reason. And that is the fact that the people refuse to hear what God is telling them. God sent the prophets and others to warn the people of the danger of disobedience, and these people did not listen, but even turned and killed or harmed those trying to help them.
Jeremiah tried to help those who had lost their way, or for the purpose of our application, the people who have left God for the world. These people need the strongest warnings, for their souls are in jeopardy. There are also those who have never obeyed the gospel that are lost, and we preach to them, and try to teach them, yet they turn their back on the words of God. In fact, it is as Jeremiah wrote; the word of the LORD is a reproach to them.
And then we need to give warnings to those who are faithful to God,. Even though they do not stray from the truth, there is always a danger that they could stray from it, and become lost.
The gospel of Jesus Christ not only offers hope, but carries a stern warning to those who will reject the gospel message, and turn their back on God. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21: *Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of the Father which is in heaven.*
God told Ezekiel to give a warning to the people. Notice in Ezekiel 3:18 "When I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Ezekiel 3:20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Ezekiel 3:21 "Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul."

As Christians, we are given the responsibility to be concerned for the souls of those around us. We should take every opportunity to warn these people about the dangers of living in sin. We should warn them of the consequences of living without God in their life. I am sure that if a physical danger was hanging around, like an electric line on the ground, that someone would offer warning, even to the point of shouting to make people aware of the danger of the electric line. But sadly, many people are on a pathway to a more horrible danger than anything this world could offer.
Yes, sometimes we warn them, and they choose to continue in sin, and there is little we can do about that. The fact that we warned them places the burden upon their own heads, and we are not held accountable, but when we fail to warn them, God said that He would hold us accountable for that soul.
Do you want this hanging over you? I would hope not. Yes, it can be frustrating to speak to people and they disregard you, but they really are disregarding God. God appreciates those who will warn souls of the danger they face. So at least make the effort every opportunity you have. God will reward your efforts. But you place your own soul in jeopardy if you do not warn others. Don't take that chance, heed the warning.
By Carey Scott

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