Tag Archives: Warning
Proverbs 19:9
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
Speak The Truth
This verse is almost identical to Proverbs 19:5. We saw in this post that there is only one way to pass a polygraph test – by telling the truth.
We also saw that it does not pay to lie!
Richard De Haan said,
Lying may seem like a convenient way out, but it’s really a dead-end. The right and sensible choice, therefore, is to speak the truth–and nothing but the truth.
Nothing But The Truth
A 12-year-old boy was a key witness in a lawsuit. One of the lawyers, after intense questioning, asked, “Your father told you what to say, didn’t he?”
“Yes,” answered the boy.
“Now tell us,” pursued the lawyer, “what were his instructions?”
“Well,” replied the boy, “Father told me the lawyers would try to tangle me in my testimony; but if I would just be careful and tell the truth, I could say the same thing every time.
The Warning
Solomon is giving us a warning in this verse. That warning is that if we lie or are a false witness, then we WILL be punished in the end. By lying, or not telling the truth, we are condemning ourselves and we will perish.
As Christians, we must be very careful with our tongues. If we call ourselves a Christian but continue to “bear false witness” or lie, then we are only fooling ourselves. This is what James 1:26 says,
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. (ESV)
“Tell the truth and tell it right,
A lie will never do;
The Bible says that God is truth–
He wants the truth from you. –JDB
Lord, help our words to be truthful in every conversation we have. Whether with friend or foe, Lord, I pray that we would be a people of honest lips.
Leave a comment | tags: ESV, False Witness, Lying, proverbs, truth, Warning | posted in conversation/speech, sin, Uncategorized, Warnings
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” -Matthew 3:2
John’s primary message while baptizing people in the Jordan River was to repent.
Repent literally means “to change your mind.”
Stop thinking the way you do! Stop only thinking about what this world says, and think biblical thoughts, heavenly thoughts! Realize Jesus is Lord of all and Savior of the world!
You may think you are a good person, or that your good deeds will outweigh your bad deeds. But God says you do not understand how much help you need, how great a chasm separates us and Him.
The message of John and all of Jesus’ disciples is “Change your ways! Turn to God! Repent and believe!”
We cannot come to Christ unless we are willing to change.
Great God, thank You for leading us to Your Son. Continue to conform our minds to Your will as we bring others along.
1 Comment | tags: Advent, change, Christ, Christmas, Coming, Heaven, Jesus, John the Baptist, Kingdom, Mind, Repent, Second Coming, Think, Thinking, Warning, Warnings, Word of the Lord | posted in Warnings, Word of the Lord
Welcome to the second week of Advent!
Tradition holds that the second week of Advent is about preparing ourselves for the coming Messiah, with John the Baptizer being our model. This is when our focus turns from the promises to fulfillment of Messiah. Obviously, there is a connection between each week, as we begin by looking out our need for the promised Savior, and then we move to finding the truth of the living Savior.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. -Isaiah 40:3, KJV (see Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4)
John was prophesied centuries before either he or his cousin, Jesus, lived. John is also the final of the Old Testament Prophets. He was the last to prophecy the coming Messiah before Jesus began His ministry.
He was an ascetic – someone who separates from society in many ways through denying comforts and desires, including diet and habits, for religious purposes. (See Numbers 6 to understand more of John’s asceticism, known as the Nazirite vow.) He seemed pretty crazy and weird, but he laid the groundwork for the Messiah.
What did this mean?
He called out sin, decried fame, and [literally] pointed to the Lamb of God, the Messiah.
As Christians – believers in the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus – we are likewise called to point to the Savior. We are to prepare the the way for His return and encroaching Kingdom.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. -Matthew 28:18-20
How are you pointing others to Jesus?
Good Lord, give us a passion for sharing the Good News of Jesus – to call out sin, love people, and glorify Your Name.
1 Comment | tags: Advent, Baptist, Baptizer, Christ, Christmas, Coming, Jesus, John, Lord, Messiah, Path, preparation, Prepare, Second Coming, Sin, Warning, Warnings | posted in sin, Truth, Warnings, Word of the Lord
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. –Proverbs 29:1, KJV
Do you know that person who is always right, has an excuse, and/or just ignores those who confront them?
(Is that you?)
Most of us do not like being around such people too long (sorry, if you are one.) Living this way can therefore lead to loneliness.
But it does get worse.
Consider the following:
- Pharoah was told enslaving the Hebrews was wrong, and he refused to let them leave Egypt. He ended up in the bottom of the Red Sea while in pursuit of them.
- The Israelites were told not to worship other gods, or they would be overrun by their enemies. They were.
- The Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom) kings were told to repent and reform their countries or be taken into captivity. They were.
Ultimately, though, (you may already know where this is going) if we refuse to accept the gospel, repent of our sin, and allow the Holy Spirit to conform us to Christ’s image, we end up “without remedy” in the torment of the lake of fire.
Listen, then, to Peter: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38) and eternal life.
Leave a comment | tags: Book of Proverbs, Books of Kings, Israel, Judges, Pharoah, Repent, Sin, Warning, Warnings | posted in Warnings
Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. -Proverbs 29:18, ESV
A prophet declares the word of the Lord. In that sense, pastors and evangelists are prophets!
But we tend to hear the word “prophetic” and think “telling the future.” There certainly is an element of this, but we must remember the the other part of prophecy: revealing what is hidden … not just the future, but in our lives.
Most importantly, prophecy reveals God’s expectations.
Therefore, a good pastor and evangelist remind people that God has set His expectation for how we are to live (summed up in the Ten Commandments, which are summed up as “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself”), and that we will one day be judged by how we have done. More specifically, we will be judged by whether or not we followed God’s Son, Jesus.
The prophetic vision we have is that God has a standard, as modeled in Jssus, and He will be coming back to the earth in judgment.
If we neglect to teach and remind this world of this, people will throw off restraint and wantonly sin, either because they see no need for a Savior (“We’re basically good!”), or because they see grace giving them license (“We can do whatever we want, because God forgives!”)
We are either going to be judged guilty by how we rejected Christ or how we defiled Christ.
Only by believing in and emulating Christ’s sacrificial work – allowing His cleansing blood to cover us with forgiveness and grace to live a life of forgiveness, grace, and love – will we be ready for His imminent return.
Leave a comment | tags: Book of Proverbs, God's Word, Judge, judgement, judgment, justice, Knowledge, Law, paths of life, prophecy, Prophetic, Prophets, Second Coming, Ten Commandments, truth, Vision, Warning | posted in Justice, Knowledge, Paths of Life, Warnings
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. -Proverbs 26:5, KJV
This is a fairly easy verse to understand: tell someone when they are doing something wrong, otherwise they may think they have it all figured out and are doing nothing wrong.
I could stop there, but perhaps some examples could help.
Children need to be told what is right and wrong, or they grow up thinking everything they do is okay and even good, if they survive! (My parents told me not to run I to the street, for example.)
A gossip will continue spreading lies and mistruths unless they are confronted and corrected.
Most importantly, people are on their way to Hell, thinking they are okay or even right in their beliefs, unless the Gospel is shared with them.
There are times to know when to stop and “shake the dust off your feet,” as mentioned in the previous verse or by Jesus Himself (Matthew 10, Luke 9, Mark 6). That is for another post!
2 Comments | tags: advice, Answer, Book of Proverbs, Child, children, Conceit, discipline, folly, Fool, Gossip, Warning, Wisdom | posted in advice, discipline, Warnings
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. -Proverbs 22:14 KJV
This will be slightly longer today, and dark.
A strange woman can be an adulterous, a prostitute, or simply a deceitful woman. I also think God will let sinful people, male and female, to fall into “strange people” – Male and female.
The most common rebuttal to this verse is “God doesn’t abhor (hate) people!”
Paul gave a rebuttal to this rebuttal:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1:21-32, KJV
If you choose to hate God (go against His Word) by following strange teachings, He will let you follow them into the deep pit you walk into.
Trust in God. Believe His Word and follow His statutes and thus be saved from the pit.
2 Comments | tags: Book of Proverbs, Deep pit, Hard heart, Hate, Pit, Strange men, Strange woman, Strange Women, Strangers, Warning, Warnings | posted in Warnings
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. -Proverbs 21:13, KJV
I have pretty much always been a compassionate person. There was a time, however, when I followed a party line and believed the poor must have done something to deserve it.
This is especially crazy knowing my family went through a time when we almost ended up homeless, wondering if there was enough food to feed the five of us each day.
Personal Rebuke
But God sent me a bit of a rebuke, and in late 2007 through early 2008 I spent most nights on the streets of metro-area Phoenix. If you can not learn more compassion for others when alongside them, you are truly hard of heart.
I was fortunate (though my parents worried like crazy), but others may not be.
Throughout Scripture, God sets His expectation for His people: to love the widows, orphans, and the poor.
In the literal understanding, help those who do not have enough. This is loving your neighbor.
Deeper Cries
The deeper understanding is to help those who are spiritually poor. Help them find the truth of who Christ is. Feed their spirit and mind with God’s Word.
To not do so is to condemn them – and yourself – to eternal death and judgment, to cries of the poor who will never find rest. That is why to ignore the cries of the poor will lead to your own crying that will not be heard.
Believe in and share Christ and be saved.
Leave a comment | tags: Book of Proverbs, charity, Hell, Homeless, love, Mercy, orphans, Poor, sharing, Torment, Warning, Widows | posted in giving/charity, Love, Mercy, Warnings
Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. -Proverbs 19:25 KJV
Why do guys like hitting each other?
It seems silly, but a lot of guys do it.
However, we see those who can knock someone out cold with one punch or kick through a brick wall, and everyone else agrees, “Don’t mess with him!”
But is that all?
Look at the recently rebranded debate over the death penalty. Pope Francis called it “inadmissable” for governments to kill using the death penalty.
But, as a friend said to me about locks on doors, it may serve to “keep the honest people honest.” Or at the very least it warns those who may want to commit a crime that there are severe consequences, and they will simply beware the dangers and avoid the crime.
Things should be different.
Why aren’t they different? We fail to live out the two greatest commandments: Love God and love others.
We get too focused on our own wants and needs, and it leads to mistreating others.
A wise person, though, will see the law or hear the admonition against things and think, “I can see how that might hurt others.” At the very least, he or she would want to learn more about why we should or should not do something. This keeps them out of trouble in the first place!
But you better believe there’s a deeper meaning to this!
A simple person will look at the cross of Christ and think “Don’t make waves” or “Religion causes problems.”
But the point of the Cross is that God has a Law that no one can meet, but Jesus did and made a way for us by sacrificing Himself on that cross. The wise person understands our sinful nature and seeks to avoid the condemnation our lawlessness brings. This person seeks out the truth of Christ to believe and be saved.
In this world, big, strong guys impress and intimidate us.
At the end of this world, The Big Guy will finally reveal His strength as His wrath is poured out on those who refuse to believe.
Who do you fear more?
Leave a comment | tags: Blows, Book of Proverbs, Hit, Hitting, Reprove, Simple, Strength, Strong, Understanding, Warning, Warnings, wise | posted in Warnings
The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the Lord. -Proverbs 19:3 KJV
“How could a good God allow …”
This is how a popular accusation against the existence of God starts. Sometimes there are specifics (“… my son to die?”), but generally it is more general (“… evil to happen?”)
My question was “Why didn’t He stop me from making that stupid choice?”
In each of these, we are angry with God for something happening to us or to someone we love (or for evil in general).
The Thing We Fail To Understand
The root of all of this evil starts with our own human nature, with all of our boneheaded or uninformed decisions.
Boneheaded because we know better but want something now or in spite of reason.
Uninformed because of assumptions we make without all of the facts or plain ignorance.
However, it all goes back to our ultimate parents: Adam and Eve. Yes, we inherited this sinful (rebellious) nature.
But the failure to understand comes in how this applies to a good God.
The thing is, God created us with free will. It is tainted by sin, but we are still free moral agents.
This freedom to rebel against God is what allows us to freely love Him, but it also means that more often than not we choose rebellion.
And God lets the natural consequences play out.
(Still within His control, mind you.)
Why does God allow evil and sad things? Because He loves us enough to let us choose that which causes evil, but He is also just.
Death, pain, and natural disasters are a result of our ultimate parents’ sin, but we perpetuate and exacerbate the problem with our own sin.
He does intervene from time to time, but ask yourself this:
Would you want to help people who constantly complain and blame you for what others have done?
Why should we expect God to ever help us?
(The short answer: because of the grace poured out through Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross.)
Leave a comment | tags: Allow, Blame, Book of Proverbs, Complain, evil, Good, human nature, judgment, justice, Natural consequences, Sin, Warning, Why does a good God, Why would a good God | posted in Justice, Warnings
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