Warning

​Along the Oregon coast are posted signs warning people to beware of sneaker waves. Children playing on logs in the sand have died because a large wave has come in and rolled the huge timber over them as if twirling matchsticks.  Others have been knocked down and pulled out to deeper water only to drown. 

We warned our children about these waves before letting them join their grandparents for a two-day adventure on the coast.  Nevertheless, while they were having fun on the sand a sneaker wave caught them by surprise.  Two escaped. One fell down.  His coat instantly filled with water and he could not get up. He thought he was going to die. Grandpa saw his plight and pulled him out of the water.  Three children learned a valuable lesson about the power of the ocean.  
 
Meditation
1 Corinthians 10:6-12--Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did. Don’t become idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to play. Let us not commit sexual immorality as some of them did, and in a single day 23,000 people fell dead.  Let us not test Christ as some of them did and were destroyed by snakes. Nor should we complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.
 
Did you know that the Bible is loaded with warnings?  God understands the danger of sin.  He informs us through Scripture of the consequences of evil because He loves us and wants to protect us.  Yet many of us would rather play in the sand and pretend no wave could ever take us under. We rationalize immoral behavior because we don’t like warnings.  We mute our conscience button.  We suggest that God’s word is open to a variety of interpretations as opposed to submitting to its irrefragable admonitions.  In short, self-serving moral relativism is favored over reverent obedience.  Do you resist God’s cautionary guidance to please your flesh?
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If the Holy Spirit brings conviction to your heart take heed of His prompting!  “The one who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe” (Proverbs 28:26).
 
Inspiration
A warning is a great arresting statement of God’s, inspired by His love and patience.—Oswald Chambers in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
 
©1999 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)