Stop, Look & Listen

Many of us can remember these familiar words as we approach a railroad crossing.   We were taught to STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN!   We have read of accidents that have occurred at railroad crossings because a driver decided to disregard the flashing lights and the alarm bells that were sounding at that particular railroad crossing.  There have been times that drivers have even disregarded the oncoming train that they could identify as they approached the railroad track.   There have been drivers who have willfully chosen to ignore the wooden barriers that were stretched out over a portion of the track.  They have driven around as well as through those barriers because they assumed they could “beat” the train through the intersection.   People have been killed because they failed to stop, look and listen.  

 

The New Testament issues that same warning to us as Christians.    The Spirit uses the Apostle James in James 1:22-25 to issue that stern warning; “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ²³ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. ²⁴ You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” (NLT) (Emphasis added).    The urgency of his message must be faced. He is warning us not to be self-deceived about our very salvation.  We must realize that a true relationship with God requires an active response to the Word of God. We must be willing to put into practice those principles that God identifies to us through His Word. We should choose to embrace the Word of God rather than ignoring the Word of God. We must not forget what God is saying but it is equally important to apply those words to our life as it pleases God.