The Warning!

The waters of the Niagara River can be deceptive. It may be tranquil and calm initially, but as it approaches the falls, it will pick up speed. No one sailing those rough waters will be able to turn around after that point! Supposing two young men in a canoe sail down the Niagara river, what would you think? We would wonder how they could have ignored so many warnings about the approaching rapids. We would wonder how they could have forgotten the accounts of people who have accidentally fallen into the river and carried over the falls to their death. We would think that they must be simply out of their minds! Reading the book of the prophet Jeremiah, I felt the same sense of wonder! How could the people of Judah have ignored such clear warnings of the coming destruction through the Babylonians and fail to take corrective action? If they had heeded the warnings, they could have repented and changed history!

Murray Campbell, Lead Pastor at Mentone Baptist Church, Melbourne, Australia, brings out some interesting thoughts on the book of Jeremiah. He talks about twelve lessons we can learn, and I want to share some with you. He says disobeying or making light of God's Word is dangerous and reckless. God not only uses history to achieve His purposes, but He shapes history according to His purposes. Continuing wilfully in sin reveals that we do not honour God and His law. God is serious about His Ten commandments. God's promise of judgment and punishment is not merely rhetorical. Pastor Murray says God's warnings are also an expression of grace. God loves to show mercy. God longs for His people to repent and to return to him. Murray adds that leaders of God's people must not twist or ignore God's Word. The strongest warnings and judgments are directed toward Judah's teachers and priests, those who claim to speak for God and yet deny Him with their words and actions.

My friend now is the time for the Christians to heed the warnings. Church leaders cannot afford to trivialize or ignore obedience to the Word because it is difficult or unpopular. Now is not the time for casual Christianity. Now is not the time for lukewarm faith. Perilous times are ahead. The secular fabric of our nation is under attack. If we do not heed the warnings, repent and change our lives, it will be too late!

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