“Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not
swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
Proverbs 4:26-27
No one told the frog to avoid the pan of tepid water. No one told the frog as the water slowly heated to ‘get out of there it isn’t safe.’ No one warned the frog that the longer you stay in there, the shorter your life will be. Perhaps the frog was warned and rejected the warnings. Most have heard the story of the frog that was slowly boiled alive. It is a metaphor describing people’s unwillingness to see sinister threats that arise gradually rather than all at once.
It seems to me our culture is soon to be boiling water and many do not heed the clear warnings. Our enemy, the deceiver, is very skilled in his ingenious ways of advancing his lies. “Oh, did God really mean that?” “Your sin is too great and God can’t love you.” “You love each other, how is what you are doing sin?” “Come on, everyone else is doing it.” And on and on as we step on the slippery slope leading to destruction.
We are warned in Scripture:
“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen.” Luke 21:36
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human traditions and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8
Because we live in a counterculture rejecting any authoritative truth, finding it to be repulsive and undesirable, we must proclaim truth clearly. Our children need to know the truth so they recognize the lies of the deceiver. We must lovingly share truth with our brothers and sisters and that it comes from God’s heart. We might get pushback, but we know it won’t be easy. Noah was mocked; the prophets were ridiculed and punished. Jesus was reviled and crucified and He always spoke truth.
We’ve learned in our study of Revelation, things will get very tough. The Lord tells us to hold fast, to be faithful, to be wise, and to endure.
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, stand firm in the faith . . . and the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” I Peter 5:8-10
Prayer: Father, thank You for your Word. May I hold everything up to what it says. Help me keep my eyes open and be alert. May I follow the Holy Spirit’s lead as I interact with others about God’s truth. In Jesus name, Amen.
Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member