My mom suffers from a disease that can often prompt her to lose her step causing her to take a fall. My father-in-law suffers from Vertigo which can leave one dizzy causing imbalance and possible falls. My father-in-law has only fallen once while my mother has fallen many times. They can fall often without warning. In life, we may not have those issues however, we often fall also. We fall every time we get out of the will of God.
Consider how many warning signs you see on a daily basis. Don't litter, don't speed, don't trespass, don't steal and so on. I ran across one in Galveston that simply read Caution-Drop Off. It was very clear to me that I was on the seawall and higher than beach level so why would anyone walking on the seawall need that warning sign?
Of course once I saw the sign, I just had to get closer to take a look. Yup! It might hurt if I went off the edge so it would be to my benefit to stay away from it. I have to tell you though, once I saw the sign and I got closer, something happened inside me...I was mesmerized. It's like that steep drop was calling my name and I literally had to pull away! I don't know why but it took me in.
That's how it is in life. Often we know the warning signs and we drift to the situation anyway. Why? Do we want to confirm that "yup, it might hurt us" or "I'll test it." Warnings are given for a reason.
Often when we read the Bible, we might ask "why do we continue to read about the Isrealites and their disobedience?" Well, probably because they wouldn't learn their lessons. Despite the warnings from God, they continued in their disobedient ways.
Moses interceeded on their behalf stating "...although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin..." Exodus 33:9 They kept going back to their sin and their wickedness and like me with the steep drop, they may have been taken in.
The Isrealites worshiped false gods, they had idols, they disobeyed God's servant and ultimately disobeyed God. Does that all sound familiar? Regardless of whether it happened thousands of years ago or today-going against God's word still has the same name...disobedience.
When my son was much younger, I would tell him "Don't get close to the edge it's a steep drop and you will surely suffer." I would caution him often because I wanted to spare him the pain of a fall. God also sends His warnings to us today. He uses the example of those that came before us.
The warning signs are there for a reason. Staying in God's Word and being obedient is all the direction you will need. God will provide the path He wants you to follow....you only need to watch your step!
We should not test the Lord as some of them did and were killed by snakes*. And do not grumble, as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall. 1 Corinthians 10: 9-12 *Numbers 21:6
No comments:
Post a Comment