“For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.” (Genesis 6:17-18, 22, ESV)
Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. Sometimes we just can’t change people. It breaks our heart, but it’s reality. And when people ignore what is so plainly explained, all we can do is protect ourselves and weep for them.
Recently I watched a security video of a woman who was so intently into her cell phone that she ignored the drowning of one of her children in the pool right beside her. While her other little toddler was trying to get his mom’s attention, she dismissed him without looking up. By the time she paid attention, we saw the lifeless body of her child in her arms, a victim of her inattention to the warnings given to her by her other child.
In order to turn our troubles around, in order to avoid the dangers of life all around us, we have to pay attention to the warnings God sends us. They exist all over the place, from the stop sign at the end of the street to the Bible we own on our shelf. Our inattention to the signs and cautions of life can result in our destruction and perhaps even our death.
Listening to God’s strategic warnings, placed within the pages of His Word and given to us through our pastor, mentor, discipler, or friend, can avert catastrophe and bring life-giving change. But how do we sense when God is speaking to us?
If we know Jesus as Savior and Lord, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God to guide, explain, and lead us into life abundant. Those quiet nudges prompt us to remember something we had forgotten or remove our peace about a certain action or decision. Often these movements of the Spirit of God are accompanied by a Biblical example or verse we are familiar worth. However, God works in you, paying attention to the warning is His love at work. Act on His kindness!
Turn-Around Tuesdays are designed to bring hope and help, insight and encouragement to those of us who are simply overwhelmed by the flood of problems life throws at us. No one is immune to trials and troubles, but God has a way of lifting us from life’s torrents. Each short thought is written by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, and comes from his life-journey with the God who never leaves us or forsakes us. He welcomes your comments below.
