Warnings are everywhere. Slow down, workers ahead, use caution, do not enter, falling rocks. There are explicit content warnings on music and ratings on movies. Even articles online will come with an NSFW warning (which stands for “not suitable for work,” which of course means if it’s not suitable to be on your work computer, it’s not suitable at all.) What have these warnings done for us? Have they become so common that we have learned to ignore them? Consider the last time you actually drove the speed limit or an “R” rating gave you pause and you actually took the time to look up the content. Have we gotten used to ignoring warnings or putting more weight on some warnings over others? What about the warnings we come across in the Scriptures?

“You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

One could argue that every story in the Bible serves as warnings for us: the story of Adam and Eve is a warning against disobedience, the story of Moses and the Israelites is a warning against complaining, the story of David is a warning against lusting, etc. We can learn from these stories but oftentimes, the warnings we find in Scripture are much more explicit.  

“My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths.” (Proverbs 1:15)

“So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say: Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!” (Proverbs 5:7-8)

Where most stories in the Bible give us lessons to learn from, the proverbs are direct statements of advice and warnings. When was the last time you read through Proverbs and took those warnings seriously? With 31 Proverbs, one can read through the entire book by reading one chapter each day. It’s a great practice to keep such wonderful advice and warnings ever present in your mind.

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9)

The Bible is filled with stories that can serve as warnings to us and entire books that give us explicit warnings, not only about consequences for our actions, but about harder times to come. How are you with warnings? Do you ignore them? Do you take them as mere suggestions? It is important to pay attention to the warnings in Scripture or we may end up repeating the same mistakes as those who came before us. We serve a God who loves us so much that He cared to give us fair warning. Are you listening?

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed