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This week's focus: Obedience

In a mellow, monotone voice, the little boy standing before me said, “Your CAH is rolling.” I didn’t understand what he said, so I smiled and replied, “That’s nice.” A few seconds later, he pointed his finger toward the parking lot and quietly continued, “Yep. There it goes.” I turned around to see what he was talking about and saw my car rolling down the street! Horrified, I raced out the door, wishing his tone would have reflected the situation’s urgency. His casual demeanor wasn’t much of a warning!

In the Old Testament, the job of a watchman over a city was to blow trumpets and sound alarms when danger was near. These appointed guards were always on the alert for enemy attacks. If they identified a threat, they warned others of approaching danger or evil so the people could prepare.

Similarly, God graciously chooses people to be His “watchmen” to deliver messages they need to hear. The prophet Ezekiel is an example when we read: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me” (Ezekiel 3:17).

This calling was not for the faint of heart because many people were stubborn and rebellious and didn’t want to change their ways. God knew this, so He told His prophet that He would make him as hard-headed as they were and encouraged him not to be afraid or dismayed by them. Ezekiel’s only responsibility was to obey the Lord and deliver His message. After he did that, those who heard the warnings were responsible and accountable for their actions.

It’s incredible that God still wanted to give people a chance to repent and return to Him in the midst of their sin and rebellion. Ezekiel 33:11 confirms this when it says, “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”

The same is true today. As followers of Christ, we can boldly share the truth with others because we care about them and want to redirect them off the dangerous road they are on. The apostle Paul understood this when he wrote, “Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31).

He warned others with tears because he loved them. Like Paul, let us refuse to give up but continue (whether it’s popular or not) to implore all who will listen to be reconciled to God—before it’s too late.

As our nation continues to drift further away from God and His statutes, may our actions reflect our situation’s urgency, boldly sound alarms, and blow the trumpets. May it never be said that as God’s children, we quietly pointed our finger at our country as it rolled away and said, “Yep, there it goes."

by: Jennifer McAlister for My Faith Votes