June 7

Written by Bill Grandi on June 7th, 2023

Warning signals are designed for a purpose-a warning that something big is coming.

Our community has tornado sirens. When heeded they save lives or at least lets us know something is coming. When the tornado made its way through our neck of the woods a couple of months ago-and landed in some areas- the only casualties were those who failed to hear or heed the warning.

When the tsunami hit Indonesia in 2010 (has it been that long ago?) over 400 people lost their lives. It didn’t have to be.  They had a warning system of buoys that had become detached and drifted away. My question would be whether it happened because of the tsunami or from neglect or forgetfulness to check them. In any case, it was a tragedy which could have been avoided.

We have fire and smoke detectors in our houses. If heeded they save lives. What good would it do if we heard them go off and say, “Oh, that’s just the fire alarm. I’m going back to sleep”?  said no wise person ever.

We have a warning system “built in” to each one of us. It is called the conscience. For the most part, that is enough. We have been given the ability to discern right from wrong.

For some-and I am referring to Christ followers-our system has another mainspring: the Holy Spirit. We all know our consciences can be hardened-seared it is called-where what is right and what is wrong is skewed. Oftentimes it is unreadable. The Holy Spirit (who is Christ in you) helps us to know right and wrong.

If you are a follower of Christ, stay sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. Stay open to those nudges, those gentle tugs on your spirit, that say yes or no.  I’ve noticed those tugs are good warning signs when they need to be, and good lights to light my path.

But you must listen!

 

8 Comments so far ↓

  1. Ryan S. says:

    The danger really comes when we ignore the warning signs. I think most of us can look back on our lives and identify times where the sirens and alarms were going off, but we managed to silence them. The Holy Spirit is definitely an upgrade to the early warning system God has placed in each of us.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      You made the point better than I did Ryan. We do tend to ignore the warning signs, especially those of the Spirit. “Open my eyes and ears Lord.”

  2. gail says:

    When the Holy Spirit gives you a nudge, you can not call that a gut feeling. First of all, generally the thought that follows or seems clear it not where your mind was going. When you think, where did that thought come from, if you stop then and pray, the Holy Spirit can help you discern the situation so that you have better clarity. As a Christian we are equipped with everything we need for good decisions, we can talk to God directly. We really have no excuses, other than we did not listen or pray about it, we know whose fault that point’s to.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      You are right Gail. Not a gut feeling. There is definitely something internal that happens when the Spirit convicts and moves us. You made me chuckle a little at the “we know whose fault that points to.” Who me?

  3. When we fail to listen to the urging of the Holy Spirit, we are bound to go astray. Lord, help me heed the warnings!
    Blessings, Bill!

  4. Cheryl says:

    This brought to mind the verse that talks about people’s consciences being seared with a hot iron. I don’t see how people could be doing the awful, vile things they are doing if their consciences weren’t seared. I think also about how God turns them over to a reprobate mind and also a strong delusion to believe a lie. I have such a fear of overriding my conscience and ever ending up in such an awful spiritual state. “Dear Lord, help me always be so sensitive to Your voice and those nudges, and help me be quick to obey You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Sadly there are too many, including those who claim to follow Christ, whose consciences have been seared. we have accepted and affirmed sinful lifestyles and many can’t tell the “worldly” ones from the “spiritual” ones. I pray to stay faithful to His call.