Turn back by Gary Rose

Warnings: we see them practically every day; bad weather, congestion on the highways, food recalls and side effects of prescription medicines and perhaps hundreds of others over the years. Do we listen? Do we even care? Some do and that makes it all worthwhile. The Bible is replete with warnings, just peruse the Old Testament Prophets like Isaiah and you will see how many times ancient Israel was warned to turn back to God. There are quite a number in the New Testament as well; this one is in the Gospel of Matthew...

Matthew 3 ( World English Bible )

Mat 3:1, In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

Mat 3:2, ”Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

Mat 3:3, For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.” ^*

Mat 3:4, Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Mat 3:5, Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.

Mat 3:6, They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mat 3:7, But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Mat 3:8, Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance! ^*

Mat 3:9, Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Mat 3:10, ”Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 3:11, I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

Mat 3:12, His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”   * Emphasis added

Now, if you pay attention to the road sign above, you may avoid an accident or damage to yourself or your car, but if you don’t listen to John’s message about Jesus, you just may be in store for something far worse. Are you listening yet? Time to turn from sin and to Jesus for all the help you will ever need!