Articles
Signs
Signs
We live in a day and time of signs! There are stop signs, yield signs, billboard signs, not turning signs, no trespassing signs and warning signs. There are signs on food products. Signs alert us to the possibility of danger or what to avoid that can cause injury or death.
What about signs that alert us about our souls, our spiritual well-being of danger? Some have crossed the line and never saw the signs. The result? The conscience and the heart become dull and insensitive.
The language we use should alert us to our heart condition. “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man” (Matthew 15:18). WARNING! “If anyone things himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his own tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless” (James 1:26). WARNING! “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that is may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). WARNING! The words we use in our speech reveal the heart condition and we need to heed the sign!
Husbands and wives acting unloving toward each other. They speak sharply with uncaring, or hurtful words. “You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). WARNING! “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22). WARNING! The drifting has begun and eventually it could destroy the home.
Brethren argue and fight with one another. Brothers and sisters refuse to have anything to do with one another. Bitterness, or hurts have taken hold in the heart. “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother (1 John 3:10). WARNING! The devil’s goal is to destroy God’s people and divide.
For many, worshipping with the saints is not a high priority. In fact, the church herself, Christ’s body, is not a high priority to them. Children are not taught or trained to love Christ’s church. Pleasures take importance and that is their goal for the first day of the week. “For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parent, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:2-4). WARNING! God can quickly become secondary, if these attitudes and desires prevail. Jesus is dedicated to His body, the church. The Holy Spirit resides in the church, Christ’s body.
Are warning signs going off around you and you are unaware? Have our hearts gotten that out of tune and our consciences seared? “Test yourself to see if you are in the faith: examine yourselves…” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
--Brent Newton
