THE NEED TO HEED (Part 1)

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1 (NKJV) -  “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”  
     
Did you know that as early as the mid-1940s, humankind had developed two major ways of predicting the position and intensity of hurricanes?  These methods involved something called aircraft reconnaissance and computer technology—the latter of which emerged in the mid-1950s! Reconnaissance refers to “a survey of a region, especially to locate an enemy or ascertain strategic features.”  (Oxford American Dictionary) Some spiritual parallels here can easily be recognized. Certainly Genesis 6:5 suggests to us that our omniscient Savior has always known what was in man—no reconnaissance maneuvers required! (Jn. 2:25)  That  said,  we humans have long possessed an innate desire to receive advance warning of imminent disasters and catastrophic events. Even mockers and scoffers throughout time have been “on the lookout” for divine judgment, 2 Peter 3:4 points out.  Thankfully for us, the God of the universe has ALWAYS been BIG on warnings! Verses like Proverbs 29:1 summarize the dire nature of our Lord’s oft-repeated warnings—“He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will SUDDENLY be destroyed, and that without remedy!” I believe we can safely generalize this truth to both individuals and nations, don’t you?
   
 As early as in Genesis 19:12-14, we read about God’s warning to Abraham’s nephew Lot concerning His imminent destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah—two cities with rampant sinning, including gross sexual perversions, going on as a “normal” course of conduct—just like today.  Lot’s relating of that warning to his sons- in- law was met, as are divine warnings today, by disbelief; they thought Lot was joking.  Lot’s wife also responded to the warning in disbelief, paying the ultimate price, being turned into a pillar of salt, following her disobedience in looking back!  (Gen. 19:17, 26)
     
We who have received Christ are called to press on, to not look back, to not look around in dismay, longing, as did the Israelites of old, for days when life seemed easier, or looked less ominous.  Let’s keep our spiritual eyes focused on Christ Jesus and our hearts SINGLEMINDEDLY fixed on serving Him who called us out of eternal darkness, until He calls us to our eternal home in heaven.  Faithful is He who calls us, who will also do it!

PRAYER:  Father God, may we Your elect people continue to press on in faith toward Your high calling in Christ Jesus; for it is written: “Truly I have spoken, truly I will bring it to pass.  I have planned it, I will surely DO IT.”  (Isaiah 46:11) To God be the glory!!  In Jesus’ name—AMEN!

(by Denise Diggs)