Warning to Pay Attention

Hebrews 2:1

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

As General Conference has concluded – one thing has resonated in my mind – in my spirit. Some are trying to say they know more than the Apostles – more than those who walked with Jesus – and heard straight from Him. The historic truths of Scripture have not changed. For instance – the Biblical truth – without doubt – is that marriage is between one man and one woman. This was God’s design from the beginning and – although humanity strayed from this truth as revealed in Scripture – God continued to call them to this truth. Here’s one example – from the very words of Jesus.

Matthew 19:4–6 – ⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’  ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? ⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

The seventh fruit of the Spirit – found in Galatians 5 – is faithfulness. I believe the church is not being faithful to the truth of the Scriptures in regards to marriage (among other things) – instead – as we were warned – they are seeking what their itching ears wish to hear and believe. Here is that warning – as Paul – led by the Holy Spirit – warned a young pastor – Timothy – about the days when truth will be challenged.

2 Timothy 4:1–5 – ¹ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

What do you think of when you hear the word faithfulness? I first think of the vows we share at our marriages – to be faithful until death do us part. Throughout the Bible the relationship between Jesus and the church is compared to that of the groom and the bride. I like the love and passion shown for the church in this one.

Isaiah 62:5 – As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

Any time we sin – we are being unfaithful to a faithful God. We are committing spiritual adultery any time we take up with Satan – and sin. God expects faithfulness from us. God calls us to live faithfully in relationship with Him – no matter what the secular world does around us.

We are called to be faithful – to clothe ourselves with this fruit – to let our lives exemplify a life of faithfulness. As the fall unfolds before us – how about joining me and pledging to God to be faithful? Oh – what God could do with a faithful people!

We must stand with Jesus and His Holy Word – we cannot cave to the secular worldview. Even if we stand alone – we must stand. We are warned of the pending doom for those who deviate from the truth found in God’s Holy Word. Most of our issues – have to do with deviating from the Scriptures.

Just something for us to think about today as we go on our way.