Ikaw, Ezekiel, ang ginagawa kong bantay ng Israel; anumang marinig mo sa akin ay sabihin mo sa kanila bilang babala. Kapag sinabi ko sa taong masama na siya’y mamamatay at di mo ito ipinaalam sa kanya upang makapagbagong-buhay, mamamatay nga siya sa kanyang kasamaan ngunit pananagutan mo ang kanyang kamatayan.

Ezekiel 33:7–8

“Bumalik na kayo kung ayaw ninyong ma-trapik!” Ito ang paulit-ulit na naririnig sa walkie-talkie or two-way radio ni Jun habang binabiyahe ang kanyang pampasaherong van. Nagbigay na ng warning gamit ang walkie-talkie ang mga naunang driver para maiwasang  ma-stuck sa traffic ang mga kasunod na bumibiyahe.  

Mabuti na lang at nakikinig si Jun kaya’t humanap siya ng alternate route para makaiwas sa trapik at maihatid ang kanyang pasahero nang walang delay. Napakalaking tulong ng walkie-talkie lalo na sa mga katulad niyang bumibiyahe araw-araw dahil naituturo kung saan mas mabuting dumaan. Pero effective lang ang warning kung susundin ito ng mga nakikinig.  

The Bible has many stories of people who ignored God’s warning and suffered the consequences. Lot’s wife, who was told not to look back, as they were escaping Sodom and Gomorrah, turned into a pillar of salt because of her disobedience (Genesis 19:26). Adam and Eve were forbidden from eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, but they believed the serpent anyway and were banned from Paradise (Genesis 3:1–7).

God warns His children through His Word, which is meant to protect and not to complicate life. His Word gives hope and wisdom to those who believe. Do you believe God’s reminders are for your own good?