The Warning of God
美佳之窗 His Window 95（ Jul - Sep 2021 ）
Text by Rev. Phan Wu Chung
Translated by Stephen Cheng
In our everyday lives, giving out a warning is not something new. For example, when someone makes a small mistake, we would normally advise him not to repeat it. But if the mistake is serious and if the person refuses to correct it even after repeated reminders, then a warning will become necessary. Therefore, warning is ultimately given for incorrect actions. After understanding the consequences of such a warning and yet he continues to repeat it, then, he only has himself to blame.
The Bible records many of God’s warnings and how people respond to Him. For example, the Lord spoke to Cain: “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But, if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Gen 4:6-7) But, Cain did not listen to the warning and he killed his own brother, resulting in God’s punishment. The very familiar scriptures of 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, are deemed to be considered the fulfillment of God’s promises; but, when we read on, we will notice this warning: “But, if you turn away and forsake the decrees andcommands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.” (2 Chronicles 7:19-20)
History clearly tell us that most of the ancient Kings of Judah forsook the Lord to worship other gods. Because they did not listen to God’s warnings, their countries fell to the enemies, the citizens were exiled, and the temple was destroyed. During the New Testament era, Jesus issued many warnings, some of which are deeply rooted in our hearts, and a typical example is recorded in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons, and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” To us, Jesus’ warnings seem exaggerated or just for frigthening people only; citing the example of Judas of the 12 disciples, who betrayed Jesus. Let’s look at the letters written to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. There is this warning at the end of every letter: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22) Today, Christianity has vanished from the seven churches mentioned in Revelation. From this, we may conclude that the churches at that time did not listen to the warnings. Of course, God did not only warn His people, but also warned the Gentiles. The year when Moses led the Israelites out of Egpyt, God used various disasters to warn the Pharoah who stubbornly refused to listen. As a result, during the tenth disaster, Pharoah lost the lives of his elder son and his people as the price for not heeding the warnings. The Lord also sent prophet Jonah to warn the citizens of the city of Nineveh to repent and believe the Kingdom of God; surprisingly the King of Nineveh chose to listen to the warning and commanded the entire nation to repent and turn away from their evil ways, in order to avoid the disasters.
Based on the above scriptures and examples, we can arrive at the following conclusions:
1 WARNING HELPS US TO KNOW GOD’S ATTRIBUTES
For example, when we see a sign showing a lightning symbol hanging on a fence, naturally we know the fence is fully electrified and we will not challenge to touch it. Similarly, although our Father God is gracious and merciful, through His warnings we know He is holy, and He means what He says; therefore, we cannot cross the borders set by Him. Paul reminds us saying that, “...God cannot be mocked...” (Galatians 6:7). Therefore, we should not mock God’s warnings.
2 GOD’S WARNING GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY
Although God’s warnings are severe and serious, He repeatedly gives us the opportunity to repent. The Israelites violated God’s commands many times, but God did not immediately punish them; instead, God repeatedly warned them, hopefully one day they would turn around and repent. No wonder the writer in Psalm 30-5a says, “For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime...”.
3 WARNING IS NOT THE FINAL JUDGMENT, IT’S UP TO US TO RESPOND AND CHOOSE THE ENDING
Just like the example in the Book of Jonah, where the people of Nineveh were so wicked beyond redemption, but because they were willing to accept the Lord’s warnings, they prevented God’s punishment on them. If we choose to be obstinately unrepentant, then, we will willingly allow the warnings to materialize on us. Today, the warnings that God gives us come from His Word and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Jesus has promised us that when the Advocate comes, he will guide us to know and understand the Truth, and prove the world to be in the wrong about sin, righteousness and jugdment (John 16:8-13). Paul also tells us, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” (2 Thess 5:19-22)
To put it briefly, the Biblical warnings and admonishing of the Holy Spirit are like the amber light of the traffic lights, the amber light warns us to slow down and get ready to stop. If we still step hard on the accelerator to speed pass the red light, we would certainly get a fine or more seriously cause a tragedy. Let’s hope our spiritual lives are not like driving a car recklessly thinking that nothing would happen when we ignore the warnings of God.