Articles
WARNING
“Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself. Ezekiel 3:17-19
Have you ever noticed that warnings are often ignored? The makers of Q-tips have a warning on their package that says… “WARNING: Do Not Put Swab In Ear Canal.” But how many people actually still do it? Toll House cookie dough has a warning on their package that says… “DO NOT CONSUME RAW COOKIE DOUGH.” But how many people still do it? By law, there are warnings on tobacco products, yet the tobacco companies still make billions each year. There are warnings against drinking and driving, yet there are still about twenty thousand deaths on our nation’s highways attributed to this. Our government wants states to issue prohibitions about electronic devices being used while driving. But somehow, everyone knows that nothing is going to change. People will die, and the only people who care will be those who lost a loved one.
Why are warnings ignored? The only honest answer is found in one word: selfishness. It can't really be attributed to any other reason. However, let me share another kind of warning that we should be aware of, yet we see evidence that very few heed this warning. The warning is that which God has given us, so that we will not suffer eternal damnation. Like the other things mentioned above, this warning also goes unheeded for the most part. One possible reason is because there are not many people who have the courage to warn others.
In our passage above (also chapter 33), we read about God's watchmen. These are those who are commanded of God to warn people of the danger if they will not turn from their wicked ways. There is a burning hell, and people are going there. Yet if we will warn people, perhaps some can be saved from this terrible fate. The watchman had one of the most important duties of any community. They were to be on the alert and watchful to sound an alarm, and prepare people for impending danger. The watchman found asleep at his post was severely punished, even up to death, because nothing would be more important than the safety of the citizens. How much more so when the concern is spiritual!
The apostle Paul understood this. When saying farewell to the Ephesus elders in Acts 20 he said, “And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” We as followers of Christ have been given the charge to be a watchman. To fail to warn people we know about their doom is no different than judging them unworthy to hear the gospel.
Who among us would not scream and holler if we saw a child playing with an electric socket, or running towards the busy street? Yet many idly sit by while souls are heading towards certain destruction. Try to think about a friend or loved one who is lost and in danger of hell. You would do them a great service to warn them of their destiny, and offer them hope of salvation. In the coming year, let us all determine to be the watchman God wants us to be.
