When God hired us(saved us), it was as though He asked us the same question as used in the above illustration - "In case of fire, what would you do?" Or you might say that He worded it in such a way - Knowing that there is a Real Fire called Hell and that every second 83 people die and end up in that awful pit, what do you plan on doing about it? 

 

 

 

Knowing that there is an Actual Place called Hell and that you have a responsibility before the Almighty to lead people away from that Godforsaken place, have you - by any chance - taken on the self-centered and selfish attitude as portrayed in the above illustration - "Oh, don't be concerned about me...I'd be able to escape immediately"?

 

 

If this is your attitude, then I can assure you that the Holy Spirit has "written you up" for your lukewarmness and complacency found on the job, and that you are about to be fired(spewed out) unless you straighten up and take your job more seriously(Revelation 3:16).

 

 

In Ezekiel 3:17, we see God as One Who warns - "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me."

 

What was the "word" from God's mouth? Was it a sugarcoated - "I love you, My Children; Bring me Your praises" - type of Word?

 

No! On the contrary, the Word that issued forth from God's mouth was a Word of Warning - "...give them warning from Me."

 

 

In Psalm 19:11, David informed us of the fact that the Bible is a Book of Warnings when he said - "Moreover by them is Thy servant warned..."

 

Of what was he referring here? What is "them"?

 

As we look at the Scriptures above this verse, we see that he is referring to the "law of the LORD," "the testimony of the LORD," "the statutes of the LORD," and "the commandment of the LORD" - all descriptive phrases for the Word of God.

 

Hence, what he was saying in this verse was - By the Word of God, we are warned.

 

 

It clearly and plainly reveals -

...our duties before God and men and the evil consequences of neglecting them

...the dangers to avoid

...and a future day of accountability.   

 

 

In Jeremiah 6:10, the Prophet Jeremiah asked the pointed question - "To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear...?"

 

There was no doubt or confusion in his mind as to whether or not he was hearing from God or following His leading. He knew that the Almighty had given him a "word of warning" for Judah and Jerusalem. The question in his mind wasn't whether or not he should issue the Lord's warnings, reproofs, or threatenings, but "to whom"?  Who would listen?

 

In Ezekiel 3:17-21, we read of the Prophet Ezekiel's particular assignment from God - "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way...Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity...if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin..."

 

As believers, we are called as watchmen over men's souls. Hence, any wicked who come across our path are to be warned not to continue in their wickedness. They are to be told about the misery and danger of sin and its horrible consequence - ETERNITY IN HELL!  

 

The righteous who cross our paths are to be warned about starting out in the spirit and ending in the flesh...having a first love for Jesus but then losing it for a love for this world...and beginning the race with great zeal but becoming negligent of and careless in God's work or service.  

 

In Colossians 1:27-28, the Apostle Paul reiterated what the two Prophets declared to be the obligation of each believer in Christ - "...Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man..."

 

 

As Christians, it is our God-given duty to warn others.

Through our admonitions, we -

...put a "difference between the holy and profane..."(Ezekiel 44:23)

 

The Apostle Paul would say to the modern-day Church the same words that he spoke to Archippus as recorded in Colossians 4:17 - "...Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it."

 

 

In closing, read two comments by Matthew Henry, the renowned Bible Commentator, concerning warning others -

 

O Saint of God! You have been given an assignment from God.

You have been hired to do a specific job for the Lord.

That job entails warning the wicked to "flee from the wrath to come"(Matthew 3:7).

It also includes warning the righteous to not apostatize or fall away from the Lord.

 

If any of us plan on making it to heaven and hearing the Lord Jesus welcome us with these words - "...Well done, thou good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord"(Matthew 25:21), then we must obey Him by warning others as He directs.

 

 

May we all walk in obedience to His command.

Connie