100 Sermon Illustrations on Warning

Where wildness and disorder are visible in the dance, there Satan, death, and all kinds of mischief, are likewise upon the floor. For this reason, I could wish that the dance of death were painted on the walls of all ball-rooms, in order to warn the dancers not, by the levity of their deportment, to provoke the God of righteousness to visit them with a sudden judgment.

— Gothold

In former days, when a military company was to be called out, the notice delivered to each of the members was called "the warning." An officer, who was a Christian, having given the warning to a young man, was playfully accosted by another young man, who was not a member of the company, with the question, "Have you not a warning for me too?" The officer replied, "Yes, I have a warning for you: I warn you to flee from the wrath to come." This unexpected reply proved an arrow from the Lord's quiver; and to it the young man ascribes his conversion.

There is a story, told in ancient history of a certain king who lighted a lamp, and had it hung in his palace: be then sent heralds forth to bring every criminal and rebel to his presence, that they might obtain pardon. Those who came while the lamp was burning were set free; but those who delayed till the lamp had gone out, or who altogether neglected the invitation, met with a terrible death.

Formality and Hypocrisy came also with Christian to the foot of the hill; but when they saw that the hill was steep and high, and that there were two other ways to go,—and supposing also that these two ways might meet again with that up which Christian went, on the other side of the hill,—therefore they were resolved to go in those ways. Now, the name of one of those ways was Danger, and the name of the other Destruction. So the one took the way which is called Danger, which led him into a great wood; and the other took directly up the way to Destruction, which led him into a wide field full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more. Bunyan.

Let us beware of the first wrong direction of thought and feeling; however minute the degree, fearful may be the after-deviations. The voyager enters a current which seems propitious; there is no apparent diversion from his course; his bark speeds well; his oar does not toil, nor his sail strain; in his confidence, all promises success. But, while he examines, scarcely does it seem that he has advanced. Much again and again reminds him of what he has noticed just before. A strange familiarity impresses his sense. Still, current flows into current; while onward and buoyant is his track. Soon he feels an unnatural vibration. Where he glided, he now whirls along. The truth seizes upon him: he is sweeping a whirlpool. Long since, he has entered the verge of a maelstrom, and he is now the sport of its gyrations. No power is left his helm or mast; he is the trembling, unresisting prey. He hears the roar; he is drawn into the suck of the vortex. Not only the circle lessens, the very surface slopes; the central funnel and abyss, dark-heaving, smooth, vitreous, yawns. The mariner shrieks, the skiff is swallowed up, where the waters only separate to close, where the outermost attraction was but the minister to the famine of this devouring maw. Dr. R. W. Hamilton.

An eccentric old clergyman said, that, the first time he was intoxicated, he took a hand-sled and ascended a high hill, to have a good slide over the snow. At the bottom, he saw a cow lying down, and thought to himself that he could hit that cow as easy as not, and knock her into a thousand pieces. He struck the cow, just as he intended; but, instead of demolishing her, it came near knocking him into nonentity. It sobered him effectually; and he has never been drunk since.

A young lady lost her life near the summit of Mt. Washington, only a few feet from the path, and only a few rods from the "Tip-Top House." In the fog, she missed her way, and perished when almost at the place of rest she sought.

Walden, a merchant of Lyons, seeing one drop down dead in the streets, went home and repented, changed his life, and became a preacher, and was the father and the founder of the people called Waldenses. 'Tis good to take warning by others' harms, and, by the sight of their death, to look after our own life. Venning.

Warn the boatman before he enters the current; and then, if he is swept down the rapids, he destroys himself. Warn the man before he drinks the cup of poison: tell him it is deadly; and then, if he drinks it, his death lies at his own door. And so, let us warn you before you depart this life; let us preach to you while as yet your bones are full of marrow, and the sinews of your joints are not loosed. Spurgeon.

Mr. Cecil had a rich hearer, who, when a young man had solicited his advice, but who had not, for some time, had an interview with him. Mr. C. one day went to his house on horseback, being unable to walk, and, after the usual salutations, addressed him thus:—"I understand you are very dangerously situated!" Here he paused, and his friend replied, "I am not aware of it, sir." "I thought it was probable you were not; and therefore I have called on you. I hear you are getting rich; take care, for it is the road by which

### 375. RII

Dr. Harris, of Dunbarton, walking out one day in one of the large villages of a neighboring State, he met one of the champions of Universalism. It was Gen. P—, the leader and main supporter of the large Universalist society, which had for many years existed in that place. He was a high-minded man, quite wealthy, and very influential—having a good deal of general information, and considerable skill in argument—which last he did not hesitate to use whenever and wherever opportunities were presented. He and Dr. H. were personally strangers; but knowing something of each other by reputation, they readily introduced themselves. The General very soon lifted up his standard, and began his war of words—not doubting that, though he might fail to convince his opponent, he should at least show him that he was no ordinary combatant: but knew well on what ground he stood and how to wield the sword of sectarian warfare to good advantage. The Doctor heard him through: then calmly turned to him, and said—"General P— it is of no use for us to contend. We shall probably not convince each other, by arguments ever so protracted. But there is one thing in relation to this matter which deserves consideration. It is this. I can treat your religion just as I please, I can turn from it, as an utter abomination; I can despise it; I can spit on it, and trample it under my feet—and yet after all I SHALL BE SAVED—shu'n't I, Gen. P—!" The General, of course, was obliged to assent, or give up the doctrine. There was no room for evasion. "But," added the Doctor, while the General was writhing at the contempt thus thrown upon his gods, "it will not do for you to treat my religion so. If you do, you ARE A LOST MAN!" This was enough— nothing more was said.

About the year 1823, a celebrated Universalist preached in the court-house at New-Haven, Ct., and at the close of his sermon had some disputation with a clergyman of the city. After hearing the debate awhile, one of the audience took the liberty to ask the following questions:—"Reverend sir, is it our duty to believe in the salvation of all men?" "Yes," answered the preacher. Said the other, "Where shall we go when we die if we do not believe it?" "Go where you have a mind to!" said the preacher. This powerfully affected the risible feelings of the audience, and broke up the meeting.

#### 426. Death of Universalists.

A number of men are upstairs in a house, amusing themselves with a game of cards. What is that? The window is red! What is that cry in the streets? "The house is on fire!" says one. "Oh," answers another, "shuffle the cards again, let us finish the game; we have plenty of time." " Fire! Fire! Fire!" The cry rises more sharply from the streets, but the gamblers continue their game. One of them swaggeringly boasts, "It's all right, my brave boys, yon door leads to the roof, and we can get out at the last minute. I know the way over the leads—it's all right, go ahead with the game." Presently one of them nervously enquires, "Are you sure that we can get through that door?" and he goes to try, but finds it locked. "Never mind," is the answer,

A precept of Scripture is like a lighthouse upon a quicksand or a rock; it quietly bids the wise helmsman steer his vessel another way. The whole coast of life is guarded by these protecting lights, and he who will take note of them may make safe navigation; but remember, it is one thing for the Scripture to give warning, and another for us to take it; and if we do not take warning, we cannot say, "By them is Thy servant warned."

A wasteful loss of fish life occurs by the sacrifice of millions of little fishes that are left to gasp out their lives on the meadows and grain-fields all over the great State of Montana owing to the irrigation ditches. To prevent this waste a paddle-wheel is installed at the head of a ditch to frighten back and prevent the fish from entering the intake. A law requiring this to be done is now in force in that State.

How many silly souls are warned away from danger-points in life by wise devices both divine and human!

* * * * *

On an island off the Connecticut coast there stands, says _Harper’s Weekly_, a huge revolving platform whereon are placed eight large megaphones, each measuring some seventeen feet and having a mouth seven feet in diameter.

These horns are intended to cry warning to vessels at every point of the compass, the power being furnished by a steam-whistle. Their cry has been heard a distance of twenty miles, and when the wind is favorable it will carry nearly twice as far.

The instruments utter their warnings every fifteen seconds, each megaphone giving out its cry in turn, so that the warning notes make their way out over the water in every direction. There is a combination of short and long blasts for each point of the compass, so that mariners may know exactly whence the sound proceeds.

At Diamond Shoals, off Cape Hatteras, that graveyard of the Atlantic, where, by reason of the shifty character of the soil, it has been found impracticable to erect a lighthouse, the Federal Government has installed a contrivance held down by “mushroom” anchors. This instrument consists of two big megaphones, with a diaphragm vibrated by electricity. The machine is operated by clockwork, and, once wound up, shouts for many months without the necessity of any attention on the part of attendants. In calm weather the shout of this instrument is audible for a distance of twenty-five miles.

To be useful these warning voices must be heeded. So is it with moral warnings, of which the world is full.

Once when the Persians and the Scythians confronted each other for battle, there appeared at the Persian camp a messenger from the Scythians, who said that he had some presents from the Scythian chief for Darius. The gifts proved to be a bird, a mouse, a frog, and five arrows. No explanation being given as to what the message meant, much curiosity on that point was manifested and many guesses were made. At length it was suggested that it meant threats and defiance. “It may mean,” said one, “that unless you can fly like a bird, into the air, or hide like a mouse in the ground, or bury yourselves like a frog in morasses and fens, you can not escape our arrows.”

The gospel message to us is not so ambiguous as this, but it is equally ominous if it be slighted.

“POOR PASTORS; PRODIGAL PEOPLE”

Isaiah 56:9-57:13

========= Congregational Handout ========== January 22, 2012

A. Introduction

1. Why Poor Pastors?

2. Paul’s Warning

3. Isaiah’s Warning

4. Why Should We Be Concerned?

B. Poor Pastors – False Shepherds 56:9-12

1. Their Failure to Warn of Danger (9-10)

2. Their Self-Indulgence (11-12)

C. The Righteous Remnant Spared 57:1-2

1. Comforting the True

2. Sparing God’s People

D. Prodigal People 57:3-13a

1. Their Immoral Character (3-4)

2. Their Pagan Passions (5-8)

3. Their Misplaced Trust (9-11)

4. Their Coming Exposure (12-13a)

E. The Promise to the Righteous Remnant 57:13b

F. Conclusion

1. The Church’s Heating Plant

2. The Way to Revival

========== Text of Sermon Notes ==========

A. Introduction

1. Why Poor Pastors?

a. not poor in terms of money or possessions

b. the word pastor is just the old English word for shepherd

c. these pastors are spiritual shepherds who do their duty poorly

d. what is the duty of a pastor? of a spiritual shepherd?

2. Paul was returning to Jerusalem from his final missionary journey. He stopped at Miletus and called for a conference of the elders from the church of nearby Ephesus: elders who were shepherds, watching over God’s flock in that city. Paul challenged these men with the following and other words as found in Acts 20:27-30 – 27 For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

a. well, as Paul warned, the wolves came, and they are still here today!

b. so that the flock of God – His church – is suffers as a result

3. Isaiah had a similar message in the passage we just read

a. the period being foretold by Isaiah is uncertain

(A) perhaps it was the reign of Manasseh following Isaiah’s death

(B) perhaps it was the time of exile, as both Jeremiah and Ezekiel record, as well as the years that followed

(C) when the flock of God wandered away because of poor pastors

b. yet this passage is as relevant today as it was then

(A) wolves in sheep’s clothing are ravaging God’s flock

(B) people, churches, denominations have fallen away from God

(C) a high dignitary of one denomination recently responded to the criticism of his church’s practice in a certain area by saying in effect, ‘yes, the Bible does condemn what we are doing, but we do not think that the Bible applies any longer as to this practice.’

(D) with that kind of double-talk, there can be no question but that the visible church in Canada is in need of Holy Spirit revival

4. should we be concerned for the fate of modernistic, liberal churches?

a. shouldn’t we just be concerned for our own evangelical community?

b. In 1700 both England and France were dismally situated: culturally, politically, spiritually

(A) Louis XIV by revoking the Edict of Nantes had effectively removed all rights of French Protestants, so to many were pressured into conversion to Catholicism or fled to neighbouring nations

(B) In England, as a result of the 1662 Act of Uniformity, more than 2,000 Puritan ministers were expelled from the Established Church for refusing practices in the Book of Common Prayer

(C) the ruling classes in each country lived in luxury, the population in hardship: enterprising people left for the new world

(D) Louis XV was born in 1710, lived a godless life until dying in 1774; and 15 years later came the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, the collapse of much of French soceity

(E) but England was spared that turmoil. Was it politics? no. Was it because of its navy? no. Three brothers, all born around 1700, trained and led a group of itinerant preaches who spread the message of Jesus Christ throughout England: these were Samuel Jr., Charles and John Wesley – revival came to England

c. the hope of this country is not in politics, nor in trade, nor in finance

d. the hope of this country is that the visible church of Jesus Christ return to the preaching of the Scriptures, the message of the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

e. such a revival can only come by the work of the Holy Spirit

f. that is the why and the what of which we should be concerned

g. Paul was concerned; Isaiah was concerned

B. Poor Pastors – False Shepherds 56:9-12

1. Their Failure to Warn of Danger (verses 9-10)

a. Isaiah draws a frightening picture of the danger to God’s people: ‘All you beasts of the field, come near and devour; yes, and all you beasts of the forest. Israel’s watchmen are blind, knowing nothing; they are like dumb dogs, unable to bark; dreamers lying down, loving to slumber.’

b. ‘it’s quite safe,’ says Isaiah to the enemies of God’s people, ‘you can come in and spoil them; eat them up whole.’

c. why? because the watchmen – and that is a term that is used in the Bible to describe the prophets or shepherds that God had sent to warn and to teach His people – they are not doing their job

(A) these watchmen – shepherds, pastors – are spiritually blind jsut as many are in the church today – they cannot see the danger

(B) they know nothing – they have left the place of spiritual truth, God’s word to follow man’s ideas; to be politically correct, but doctrinally false

(C) they are like sleepy watchdogs who cannot even lift there heads to bark when the danger comes

(D) they follow there own dreams; they have lost the vision of God

2. Their Self-Indulgence (verses 11-12)

a. you will find in your handout references to where these false pastors are described in Jeremiah and Ezekiel, watchdogs changed into wolves: ‘They are greedy dogs, never getting their fill; shepherds without understanding, turned to their own way, completely to unjust gain.’

(A) qualifications are given in 1 Timothy 3:3, 8 that are to be met before a person becomes an overseer or deacon: they are to be ‘free from the love of money’ or ‘not … fond of sordid gain’.

(B) these shepherds fail on all accounts as do some shepherds in the church today who relish their power, prestige and position

(C) those same standards are that they be ‘temperate’ and ‘not … addicted to much wine’ – but listen how these false shepherds talk: ‘come,’ they say, ‘let me buy wine, and let us drink our fill of strong drink; that’s for today, and tomorrow will be even better!’

b. what a painful environment for those who love the Lord, then or now!

C. The Righteous Remnant Spared 57:1-2

1. God has a word of comfort for those who remain true: ‘The righteous perishes, and there is no man laying it upon his heart; and men of mercy are taken away, with none perceiving that from the presence of evil the righteous is taken away. He enters into peace; they rest upon their beds, whoever has walked straight before him.’

a. godly men are taken from this world in death – and the implication is that this is much before their expected time – but no one pays any attention – the people are so spiritually insensitive that they do not even ask, ‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’

2. but God does this that His people be spared from even worse things

a. from the wrath that is to come

b. God takes home His own people in peace – Shalom – a word for the ultimate in health, spiritual health – and they will know His rest

c. a similar statement is made in Revelation 14:13 before the execution of the final wrath of God: ‘And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, ‘Write, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow with them.”’ – God will spare his righteous remnant

d. but when the wolves, the false take over from the true shepherds, the damage is done; the visible church, in the OT, Israel; in this day, the church that claims to be Christian; the true church suffers

e. church history tells us how this cycle has repeated before: poor pastors; prodigal people – falling away from the truth, from God

D. Prodigal People 57:3-13a

1. Their Immoral Character (verses 3-4)

a. ‘But come here, you sons of a sorceress, Offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute. Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? Are you not children of rebellion, Offspring of deceit’ (NAS)

b. using terms like son, child, or offspring of a person in relation to either a quality or a stereotype individual, is Scripture’s way of describing that person’s character

c. Israel, as a nation, has taken on the character of the idolatrous people around them: sorcery emphasising that they follow the anti-God, the Devil; adultery, that they are a false wife to Yahweh, the true God

d. How do these regard the truth? mocking; making faces and fun of

e. So are God’s people mocked and belittled today; ‘fundamental’ is used in derision; ‘evangelical’ with a grin; ‘Bible believer’ as belittling; ‘Born again’ as a joke – and this coming as often as not from leaders in churches claiming to be Christian

2. Their Pagan Passions (verses 5-8)

a. these verse, which I will not read again, combine a picture

(A) the just announced adulterous character of the so-called people of God in their relationship to Yahweh, their Redeemer & Saviour

(B) with the pagan, immoral worship practices that they had adopted from the surrounding religions and nations

b. to describe how far they had fallen from God’s purposes for them

c. when the people of the world, unbelievers, can no longer distinguish the church of Jesus Christ – the Christian – from any other person, from any other religion – then that church has ceased to be the salt of the earth and the light to the world – it needs radical revival

3. Their Misplaced Trust (verses 9-11)

a. God now refers to a past event: the attempts by Ahaz to seek alliance with the king of Assyria: ‘You went to the king with oil; you multiplied your perfumes; you sent your ambassadors even afar; you deeply abased yourself, even to hell. The length of your journey tired you out, but you did not say, “there’s no hope!” You found new strength, and so you did not faint. Of whom were you anxious and fearful that made you to be false? … and did not remember me, nor lay it to heart? Is it not that I held my peace for so long that you do not fear me?’

b. the seeking of help from anyone but God by the people of God is an affront to almighty God – these people had gone in time past to great lengths to woo the help of Assyria – and with each step towards the world their reverence and fear for the Rock-Solid God diminished

c. God’s patience with His people did not result in their repentance

d. how often God’s people seem to adopt worldly wisdom and worldly methods to run the church of God, to organize its programs

e. but the church is, or it should be, engaged in a spiritual warfare, and only spiritual weapons will work: ‘For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.’ (2 Corinthians 10:3-4) – and it is notable that these verses are speaking of strongholds – fortresses – existing within the church, not outside; in the minds of professing Christians, not in unbelieving enemies.

4. Their Coming Exposure (12-13a)

a. God will not allow this situation to continue indefinitely

(A) we pray in the Name of Jesus and for His sake

(B) for the sake of God’s great Name, the church which bears His Name will be purified until it again carries out His mission

(C) God will demonstrate the truth: ‘I, I will make conspicuous your righteousness and your works for what they are: but it will not profit you.’ – Judah was going through all the form of sacrifice that Moses had established – righteous deeds – but God was having none of it – read Isaiah 1:10-17 – He was fed up with sacrifices

(D) so also, God will tolerate only so long the form without substance that takes the place of worship in much of the church today

b. Israel pretended to worship God, but their trust was elsewhere, so God warns them ‘When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry all of them up, And a breath will take them away. …’ (NAS) – we need that the wind of the Holy Spirit sweep away all the things in the church – our church and our lives – which do not honour Him, that revival may come to the people of God

E. The Promise to the Righteous Remnant 57:13b

1. to those who remain faithful, this promise is given: ‘… But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land And will possess My holy mountain.’ (NAS) – pray that God’s visible church, His holy mountain, might be again possessed by those who indeed are His people, who take refuge in Him

F. Conclusion

1. the church’s heating plant

a. a group of five students were visiting London and thought that they would like to hear the famed C. H. Spurgeon preach. Arriving early at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, they were standing outside the door, when a portly man approached them offered to show them around, and asked if they would like to see the church’s heating plant. Well that wasn’t why they had come, but it being early, and not much else to do, they agreed. Going downstairs, opening a door, the guide whispered, ‘This is our heating plant.’ In surprise the students saw 700 people bowed in prayer, asking a blessing on the coming service. Their guide, Charles Spurgeon, then introduced himself to them

b. this is the way to revival: ‘If … My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’ (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

2. I don’t know who first said it, but it should be our prayer, too: ‘Lord, send a revival, and let it begin with me! ‘

=========== References ===========

1. © 2012 by Garth Hutchinson, Faith Fellowship Baptist Church of Aurora (Ontario): may be distributed or quoted freely, only let this be done to the glory “of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Except as noted otherwise, quotations are from the New American Standard (NAS) version of the Bible, ©1960 … 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. In these studies in Isaiah, I commend, and have primarily used, these commentaries:

a. K&D – Commentary on the Old Testament by Keil and Delitzsch, 1890; and specifically, the volumes on Isaiah by Franz Delitzsch. This has also been republished at various dates by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan

b. EJY – The Book of Isaiah by Edward J. Young; © 1965; Wm. B. Eerdmans

c. EBC – The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, particularly from Volume 6, Isaiah, Geoffrey W. Grogan, Principal, Bible Training Institute, Glasgow, Scotland; © 1986 Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 49530, Michigan.

2. in places I have used my own loose translation, in others those of EJY and K&D.

3. Jeremiah 6:13-17, 12:9-11, 23:1-2; Ezekiel 3:16-21, 33:2-7, 34:1-6

4. Adapted from Kerux illustrations #5250

The gold town of Virginia City, Nevada, had its first attempts at public education cut short by recalcitrant pupils shooting the teachers. Now a new teacher was hired out of the "Rowdy Fund," set up by a pair of penitent drunks who, in front of a full audience, had ripped to shreds with their knives the Comstock's first theatrical curtain. No one gave pale, slight Harry Flotz, a discouraged prospector going back to his first love, schoolteaching, more than one day; but Professor Flotz arrived in class with three Navy revolvers and a Bowie knife. During geography Flotz heard a whisper; like lightning one of his revolvers was trained on the offenders.

"Don't do that again," he said quietly. "I never give a second warning."

In a Japanese seashore village over a hundred years ago, an earthquake startled the villagers one autumn evening. But, being accustomed to earthquakes, they soon went back to their activities. Above the village on a high plain, an old farmer was watching from his house. He looked at the sea, and the water appeared dark and acted strangely, moving against the wind, running away from the land. The old man knew what it meant. His one thought was to warn the people in the village.

He called to his grandson, “Bring me a torch! Make haste!” In the fields behind him lay his great crop of rice. Piled in stacks ready for the market, it was worth a fortune. The old man hurried out with his torch. In a moment the dry stalks were blazing. Then the big bell pealed from the temple below: Fire!

Back from the beach, away from that strange sea, up the steep side of the cliff, came the people of the village. They were coming to try to save the crops of their rich neighbor. “He’s mad!” they said.

As they reached the plain, the old man shouted back at the top of his voice, “Look!” at the edge of the horizon they saw a long, lean, dim line - a line that thickened as they gazed. That line was the sea, rising like a high wall and coming more swiftly than a kite flies. Then came a shock, heavier than thunder. The great swell struck the shore with a weight that sent a shudder through the hills and tore their homes to matchsticks. It drew back, roaring. Then is struck again, and again, and yet again. Once more it struck and ebbed; then it returned to its place.

On the plain no word was spoken. Then the voice of the old man was heard, saying gently, “That is why I set the fire to the rice.” He stood among them almost as poor as the poorest, for his wealth was gone - but he had saved 400 lives by the sacrifice.

=====================

Another version:

Madame Chiang Kai-shek told of the heroic deed of a Chinese farmer during an earthquake. From his hillside farm he felt the quake, and saw the water from the distant ocean swiftly pull away from the shoreline. He knew that a tidal wave was imminent. In the valleys below, he saw his neighbors working in low fields that would be flooded. The farmer knew he must find a way to gather them quickly to his hilltop.

His rice barns were dry enough to burn quickly, so he took a torch and set them on fire. Then he rang the fire gong that hung nearby. His neighbors saw the smoke and heard the alarm, then rushed to help him. From the satety of the hill, they saw the waters rush over the fields they had just left. They knew at once that the farmer had saved their lives, and it had cost him dearly. They erected a monument to him, bearing this motto: “He gave us all he had, and gave it gladly.”

Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, and did it gladly so that we might be reconciled to God and receive eternal life. How can people turn their backs on a love like that?

- Open Windows

The mighty Niagara River plummets some 180 feet at the American and

Horseshoe Falls. Before the falls, there are violent, turbulent rapids.

Farther upstream, however, where the river's current flows more gently, boats

are able to navigate. Just before the Welland River empties into the Niagara,

a pedestrian walkway spans the river. Posted on this bridge's pylons is a

warning sign for all boaters: DO YOU HAVE AN ANCHOR? followed by, DO YOU

KNOW HOW TO USE IT?

Faith, like the capacity to anchor a boat, is something we need to develop and

use BEFORE we face a cataclysm.

#2172

*

Terror seized me by the throat a few months into my engagement to be married. Ardor turned to horror. Hot pursuit suddenly got cold feet. This came with a fundamental realization: If I had this woman, I couldn’t have any others. If I said “Yes” to one, I was saying “no” to millions. Not that this was a breadth of my options, mind you -- but whatever options I might have had before I said my vows, they were no more after I said them.

I gingerly raised some of these concerns with the woman who nevertheless became my wife. That was twenty-three years ago. She’s forgiven me, I think.

Every yes contains a no. And if you can’t learn to say one, you won’t learn to say the other. (Maybe that’s why we put up with 2-year olds.) It certainly describes the way Christians and churches can drift off into heresy and confusion.

I know of a church whose new pastor has led it into serious, even fatal, theological error. The mystery is that his predecessor, a thoroughly orthodox, godly and beloved man, had pastored the church for more than three decades and had never preached anything but the gospel truth. How could this happen?

I asked a friend who knew the church. She explained, “He told them the truth all those years. What he didn’t tell them was what wasn’t the truth.” He said the yes, but he never said the no, and because he didn’t his people never really heard the yes. They weren’t so thoroughly taught after all.

A police officer had a perfect hiding place for watching for speeders along a well-traveled stretch of highway. The location, at a bend in the road, allowed him to hide his car out of sight of oncoming traffic while setting up his radar to nab any speeders who passed by. He had used this location successfully a number of times, especially on holidays, and decided to use it again one Labor Day weekend.

The officer arrived at his hiding place and set himself up, settling down to wait for the first speeders to appear. After a half hour or so the officer hadn’t seen anybody speeding. In fact most of the cars that passed him were travelling exactly at the speed limit, and some of the passengers in the passing cars were even smiling and waving at him. He couldn’t believe this was happening since his hiding place was so well concealed.

Finally, after realizing that virtually all the passing cars knew he was there, the officer decided that something was wrong and went investigate. He got out of his car and walked up the road a short distance. About 100 yards before his hiding place the officer found the problem: a 10 year old boy was standing on the side of the road with a huge hand painted sign which said “RADAR TRAP AHEAD”. A little more investigative work led the officer to the boy’s accomplice, another boy about 100 yards beyond the radar trap with a sign reading “TIPS” and a bucket at his feet full of change.

Several decades ago actor Charles Coburn told that when he was a teenager

his dad always tried to dissuade him from ever going to see a burlesque show. He would say, "Don't go there son, you'd see things you shouldn't see."

But some time later he went anyway. Coburn said, "My dad was right, I saw

things I shouldn't see. I saw my dad there!"

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American Cancer Society has saved thousands of lives by educating the public about "7 warning signals of cancer."

a. Unusual bleeding or discharge.

b. Lump or thickness in breast or elsewhere.

c. Sore that does not heal.

d. Change in bowel or bladder habits.

e. Persistent hoarseness or cough.

f. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.

g. Change in a wart or mole.