Road Safety: Heeding The Warning Signs
There are many factors in road safety: outside factors such as road and weather conditions, the driver remaining alert to hazards, and the driver being focused on the course. This is true for highway travels, and also true in the road of life. In the book of Proverbs, we find a short and distinct charge for road safety. “The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity” (Proverbs 10:29). The word “way” in this verse literally means road or course of life. There is strength (safety) when you heed God’s warning signs and stay on the road God has designed and designated.
Ten Bible-Based Principles
In Reformers Unanimous, there are ten Bible-based principles which represent “the way of the Lord”. The RU Ten Principles are boundaries that we must stay within for safe travels in our course of life. If our God-ordained boundaries are violated, In the navigation of life, we are headed for a crash! Violating God’s boundaries is a warning sign of certain and impending destruction. God Desires Us To Heed These Warning Signs
God Provided Warning Signs For The Nation Of Israel
In Psalm 78, God provides some warning signs for the nation of Israel in hopes they will avoid the pitfalls of earlier generations. For the brevity of this article, I will use partial verses and sentences to illustrate this. I would encourage you to put a further study into this chapter to see the complete revelation. The words of caution begin in Psalm 78:1-7. Psalms 78:6 says, “That the generation to come might know them”. God desires future generations to heed these warning signs. God desires you and me to heed these same warning signs.
“a stubborn and rebellious generation…” -Psalms 78:8,
Disobedience Is A Warning Sign
In addition, if someone is stubborn, which means to turn away, and they are disobedient it is a warning sign they are headed for disaster. RU Principle #5 says “Small compromises lead to great disasters (or little sins lead to big sins)”. It is important to recognize warning sign #1 at the early, correctable stage before a crash occurs. Many times it starts with being disobedient in small things. If not corrected, it will result in a great disaster.
“a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God…” –Psalms 78:8,
A Heart That Is Not Right Is A Warning Sign
Since the heart is our decision maker. The heart will make wrong and destructive decisions if it is not right. RU Principle #2 says, “Every sin has its origin in the heart”. It is so very important to keep right meditations in the heart. Jesus taught this: “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matthew 12:35). Treasures are things stored up for future use. A sure warning sign is if wrong treasures (bad music, wicked talk, etc..) are being placed in the heart (meditator) and good treasures(God’s Word, preaching, etc..) are left out. Warning! Danger ahead!
“They kept not the covenant of God…” -Psalms 78:10,
Pursuing Your Own Desires Instead Of God’s Is A Warning Sign
Furthermore, a covenant is a mutual agreement. The generation that failed turned from their mutual agreement with God to be holy and follow Him. Instead, they decided to pursue their own desires. RU Principle # 4 says “It is not possible to fight a fleshly appetite by indulging in it”. As a person turns from God to their own desires, the appetite to fulfill their own desires will only grow. It will be fed more often and it will need to be fed with greater intensity. Warning – what appetite are you feeding? Righteous appetites should be fed (Bible study, church attendance, etc…). Unrighteous appetites should be starved.
“refused to walk in his law…” -Psalms 78:10,
Not Walking After God Is A Warning Sign
Therefore walking is repeated steps is represented in the decisions we make. Galatians 5:16 says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Taking repeated steps (walking) under the influence of the Spirit of God will prevent us from doing wrong (flesh). RU Principle # 1 says “If God’s against it, so are we”. Warning – keep walking; don’t stand still; keep following God! Victory is a course of life, not a destination.
“forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.” -Psalms 78:11,
Forgetting What God Has And Is Doing For You Is A Warning Sign
Another warning sign is forgetting or being oblivious to the things that God has done and is doing in your life. RU Principle # 3 says, “It is easier to keep the heart clean than it is to clean it after it has been defiled”. I used this principle because so often sin makes us stupid! We forget the goodness and greatness of God. The RU founder, Steve Curington, often challenged students to “keep short accounts with God” – that meant to keep the heart clean. Maintain that closeness with God and you will not forget His works!
Violated God-Ordained Principles Is A Warning Sign
Since the children of Israel violated God-ordained principles. Their bad behavior intensified (Psalms 78:17, “And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.”) This led to a declining relationship with God (Psalms 78:22, “Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.”)
What Happens If We Ignore The Warning Signs
If we ignore the warning signs that God has placed before us, the consequences can be very, very severe as they were with Israel. (Psalms 78:31, “The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.”) Trying to control the consequences of your sin is much like trying to control the severity of an automobile accident – you have no control. RU Principle #9 says this, “We lose our freedom of choice after we have chosen our actions. The consequences of our choices are inevitable, incalculable, and up to God”.
Heed God’s Warning Signs And Stand within His Boundaries
In conclusion, the most prudent action is to heed God’s warning signs and stand within the boundaries He has given to us. If the warning signs are ignored, the consequences cannot be controlled. If we do make a mistake, remember RU Principle #10 – “God balances guilt with blame. When we accept the blame for our actions, God, by our repentance and confession, will eliminate the guilt”.
