WARNING OF DANGERS (Hebrews. 2: 1-14)
Rev. Luis S. Notario
Glencairn Baptist Church,
Glencairn, N. York, Canada
WARNINGS are important, without which many will suffer from danger and destruction. Smokers are warned in every pack of cigarette that ‘Smoking is hazardous to health”. There are warning signs in places with high voltage areas; No Trespassing signs in private properties are also placed, etc. Likewise, the Holy Bible gives solemn warnings:
1. From drifting away from our Christian walk (Hebrews 2: 1-4).
Do you know what a dead mail is? It is a mail which cannot be delivered to the addressee for valid reasons, and could not be returned to the sender because of no or incomplete sender’s address. Such mails go to the Dead Mail Section of the postal service.
According to The United States Postal Service (USPS), there are 90-100 million of mails, including packages with valuable items and even cash money in them which are wasted.
Many Christians can be compared to dead mails. All Christians are spiritually gifted, yet not all use their gifts or put into good works the talents they received from God. Remember the parable of the talents? (Mat. 25: 14-30)
2. From developing an evil and hardened and insensitive heart of unbelief (Heb. 3: 12-13).
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Do you know what Hansen’s disease is? It is popularly known as leprosy. People affected with this disease in its initial stage lose their sense of touch or feelings. Even if they cut their fingers, they don’t feel any pain.
Similarly, some Christians are affected with so-called “spiritual leprosy” who are losing their sensitivity to do God’s will and are developing insensitive hearts.
3. From content about spiritual immaturity (Hebrew 5: 11-14).
Baby Christians can’t handle deep spiritual truths. They need milk and not strong meat (v.12). They need to be served rather than to serve. Years pass, however, but some enjoy to remain in that stature and don’t grow spiritually, hence, they bear no fruit.
Statistics say that 95% of Christians are immature, meaning, they have not shared the Gospel of salvation to anyone yet.
They wanted to be served instead of serving. If they don’t get what they want, they cry or they fly away and look for another congregation to join.
4. From seriously backsliding and failing to repent (Heb. 6: 4-9)
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame”. (Heb. 6: 4-6)
If there is no change in the lifestyle of a person who claims to be a Christian, his salvation is questionable. Many think they are Christians, they talk like Christians, act like Christians, but in truth they are not. Remember the Parable of the Tares (Mat. 13: 24-30)?
5. Danger of undisciplined and careless Christian life (Heb. 12:14-17)
Esau is used as an example in these verses. For his one careless sin of taking for granted the blessings due him, exchanging it for a bowl of food, he suffered the consequence of losing it in favor of his younger brother.
Slightly damaged items are sold for a very much less price. Similarly, one careless sin we make may cost us the loss of blessings God would have given us.
6. Against the danger of listening to the word but not doing it (Heb 12: 25-26)
Harry Truman, not the US President, but an old man with a lodging business in 1980 near the volcano, Mt. St. Helens in Washington state, USA was advised by the seismologists and their staffs to evacuate because of imminent signs of eruption of the volcano.
Because of the hard-headedness of Mr. Truman and the successful business he was having, he refused to evacuate saying that for hundred of years that volcano never erupted. When the dreadful day in May 8, 1980 came, not a part of Mr. Truman’s body was recovered.
Here’s the lesson: Christians, listen to God’s Word and don’t just listen, OBEY!