THE UNIVERSE, THE WORD, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

I am sure that just about everyone has heard the joke about the man who was warned to evacuate his home because of a pending flood, but due to his stubbornness and pride, he took a lawn chair and sat on his roof waiting for God to rescue him. When a rescue boat came, he refused to get in, saying, "No need, the Lord will save me." A little later, a helicopter hovered over his home, and he waved them off because he just knew the Lord would rescue him. The man drowned, and in heaven, he asked why God had not saved him. He was told that God had sent a warning, a boat, and a helicopter, what more did he expect God to do?

All joking aside, a similar scenario has been occurring ever since mankind decided to do things his own way. Man is in danger of eternal punishment for his sin, and God has repeatedly warned that unless he accepts God's attempt to rescue him, he will "drown eternally in the lake of fire." The difference between the joke and reality, God sent three warnings, and made only one "rescue attempt."

The first warning is found in the Creation itself. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men...because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:18-20). But instead of recognizing how awesome the Creator is, man began worshiping the creation rather than the Creator.

God's second warning to man came through the Word of the Old Testament prophets, and the New Testament apostles. They repeatedly warned of the pending judgment of God on those who trusted in religion instead of trusting in God's mercy. God's messengers were laughed at, physically assaulted, and even killed (2 Chron. 36:16; Matt. 21:35; 23:34, 37; Acts 7:52). When the religious leaders rejected Jesus because He didn't match their own idolatrous image of what the Messiah would be like, Jesus told them, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me' (Jn. 5:39).

The Holy Spirit's primary job is to warn, to convict us of our sin, of His righteousness, and of the certainty of judgment of evil (Jn. 16:8-11). He testifies, that is, directs man's attention to Jesus (Jn. 15:23). He not only is the Agent of the new birth (Jn. 3:3-8), but He seals believers until the day of our final redemption (Eph. 1:13; 4:30). And it is the Holy Spirit who reminds believers of the teachings of Jesus (Jn. 14:26).

God has given us three warnings of our need of "rescue." However, He did not offer us three means of escape. He gave His only begotten Son as the propitiation, or payment in full for our sins (Rom. 3:25; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:10). Jesus said, "I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father except by Me" (Jn. 14:6). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Trust the "Rescuer" today while there is time!