by Don Emmitte |
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So
we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift
away from it. The message God delivered through angels has always proved
true, and the people were punished for every violation of the law and
every act of disobedience. What
makes us think that we can escape if we are indifferent to this great
salvation that was announced by the Lord Jesus himself? It was passed
on to us by those who heard him speak, and God verified the message by
signs and wonders and various miracles and by giving gifts of the Holy
Spirit whenever he chose to do so.
(Hebrews 3:1-4 NLV). In the last few years we have
seen some spectacular volcanic activity. Probably the most dramatic
American eruption in our lifetime was the one on Mount Saint Helens in
Washington State. It devastated and recreated the landscape for many
square miles and literally blew a major portion of the mountain
away. For two or three months in advance, the mountain kept sending out smoke and eventually a big lava dome began to form at the top. Everybody knew it was going to blow including a colorful old lodge owner with the colorful name, Harry Truman. But when everyone evacuated the area, Harry refused. He stayed right there on Mount Saint Helens, no matter how many times he was warned about what would happen. When the smoke finally cleared from the volcano's massive eruption, there was no trace that would ever suggest that lodge or that man had ever been there. The tragedy of something like that is obvious, someone died who didn't have to die. Someone might say, "The volcano killed that man." Well, it wasn't really the volcano that killed him, it was his choice to ignore the danger and stay where he was. He chose death rather than life. That is the choice that our reading today speaks of so clearly. God says, "I am providing a way for you to have life for all eternity instead of death - heaven instead of hell. If you ignore it, you will not escape. You are choosing the fire." The word God uses here is "salvation." It suggests something that is life-or-death. When the rescuers went into that bombed-out building in Oklahoma City, the issue was “salvation.” It was life-or-death. They were, in a sense, saviors and they were the victim's hope of coming out alive. Jesus is our only hope of coming
out alive. God says, if you ignore that just as that old man ignored the
warning about the volcano, you will not escape. You are choosing death.
Because of what Jesus did, you don't have to die. Notice that God said
what would cost people eternal life was neglecting Jesus, not just
rejecting Jesus. Hell is filled with people who were going to trust Jesus,
who believed it all in their head, who needed just a little more time, who
meant to get to Jesus someday, but they passed up one too many
opportunities. They waited too long. That's why the Bible says, "Now
is the day of salvation." You've heard God's warnings. You know the
way to escape the destruction. Don't just sit there and choose death, when
Jesus gives you life. |
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