Sound the Alarm

"You, son of man, are the watchman. I've made you a watchman for Israel. The minute you hear a message from me, warn them. If I say to the wicked, 'Wicked man, wicked woman, you're on the fast track to death!' and you don't speak up and warn the wicked to change their ways, the wicked will die unwarned in their sins and I'll hold you responsible for their bloodshed. But if you warn the wicked to change their ways and they don't do it, they'll die in their sins well-warned and at least you will have saved your own life."    

 (Ezekiel 33: 7-9, The Message)

Ezekiel was appointed, by the Lord, to be a watchman over Israel.  "The main responsibility of a watchman in an Old Testament town was to warn the citizens of impending danger.  If the watchman was unfaithful, the result would be the tragic loss of life and property."  (footnote, Life Recovery Bible)  Much like Paul Revere's "Midnight Ride" when he raced from Boston to Lexington yelling, "The British are coming!  The British are coming!"  He had to send out a warning of the movements of the British army.  Or, remember the TV series in the late '60's, "Lost in Space"?  The robot would wave its arms when sensing impending danger and shout, "Warning! Danger!"

We need individuals in our lives who will warn us when they see us making choices that could possibly bring us harm.  We need for them to speak to us, with love, and out of concern for our welfare.  Then, there are times, that we need for them to just shout, "Stop doing that!  If you don't change your ways, you'll surely die!"  And, in turn, we need to warn those around us, who are living in sin, that Christ has made a way of escape from the life they are living and share with them about the plan of salvation.  

If we have the knowledge of God's grace and mercy, and we do not share our faith with those around us, God will hold us responsible if that person dies without ever having heard.  Their blood will be on our hands.  However, if we speak, and they choose not to listen, God will no longer hold us responsible.  After all, that person has a free will.  Sound the alarm!  Get the word out!  Jesus is coming, and it may be very soon!