We can shrug off warnings, we do it all the time. Is it good to shrug off warnings? No, it's a decided, definite no, it is not good to shrug off warnings. We are meant to heed warnings when we get them. If I warn you bad weather is on the way, it's a good thing because it gives you time to prepare. If I warn you something is bad for your health and you ignore me and things get worse, that warning I gave was a good thing, but you chose to ignore it. Face it, warnings are good things because they give us time to alter our behavior, or things, in some way. Without warnings, a lot of tragedies would not be averted.
God is no stranger to warnings, He has given us many throughout our human history. Many times those warnings have gone unheeded and always to the detriment of those didn't listen to them. Are there warnings for us living today, from God? Yes, And we must listen to them. May God open our eyes to the warnings He wants us to heed, and may we then heed them!
We must remember God's warnings are very real.
May Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior forever be ours! All through His amazing love and grace, through His mercy and forgiveness!!!!!!! Amen.
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The Lord Jesus said directly to the Jews:
"The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Matt. 21:43.
The words of the forerunner of Christ to the Jews were: "Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Matt. 3:9.
CHAPTER VI. AN IMPORTANT QUESTION SETTLED
Continued…
In all this it is not denied that there were conditions made to Israel in the covenant at Horeb, and by the mouths of the prophets, which were never fulfilled.
But the scriptures herein quoted show that by their transgressions they forfeited the blessings expected, so that their bestowment was impossible.
The only promises now remaining to be fulfilled to the children of men are those set forth to Adam, found in Gen. 3, and fully presented in the covenant with Abraham.
Not to be fulfilled to any people by reason of their natural descent, but to all of all nations who are Abraham's seed by faith in Christ.
Conditional promises were given to them by Ezekiel, especially in the latter chapters of his book; but the conditions were NOT regarded, and of course they could NO more be fulfilled than those noticed.
So the Lord promised to bring the Israelites, who were suffering in Egypt, into the land of Canaan. But the whole generation, with barely two exceptions, fell in the wilderness because of their unbelief and rebellion. For an illustration of God's method of dealing with the subjects of his promises, take the case of Eli. The Lord sent this message to him:--
"I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me forever; but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." 1 Sam. 2:30.
The principle upon which the Lord acted towards the Jews set forth in Jer. 18:7--10.
"At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them."
Now to Israel the Lord said he had all the day long stretched out his hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people. And as he spoke by the mouth of Jeremiah, so will he do by Israel, and by all people. The Lord Jesus said directly to the Jews: "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Matt. 21:43. The words of the forerunner of Christ to the Jews were: "Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Matt. 3:9. It is not accident of birth which finds favor with God, it is not because of honored ancestors that his blessing abides with us. He prizes above all things "the upright heart and pure," and his blessing abides with those whose characters are forming by faith in Jesus Christ according to his revealed will. And all will find their labor vain who try to make void the word of the Lord.
To be continued…
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