Signs and statements

Signs and statements interest me. and sometimes strange connections are made. For example, the road signs at an intersection say you can go both north and south on the same stretch of street, which reminds me of a husband who, after 50 years of marriage, told his wife he'd told her once he loved her and if that ever changed, he'd let her know.

Confused about the connection between the sign and the husband's statement? I'll explain. But first, read 1 Kings 13, where God sent a man from Judah to Bethel to preach against wickedness and told him to return by a different route without eating or drinking. But an old prophet lied to him and convinced him to stay and eat, stating God told him it was OK. The prophet acted like it was in the man of God's best interest to stop and eat, but it wasn't. He took the old prophet's word over the message he'd gotten straight from God, and it cost him his life.

God's doesn't change his word without being very specific in letting us know about the change (1 Peter 1:24-25; Romans 7:7; 4:15; Leviticus 11:1-47; Acts 10:9-20). Otherwise, he'd never even consider telling people to do something he'd already told them not to do or make any changes in his covenant with humankind without sealing it with shed blood (Exodus 20:1-6; Jeremiah 23:33-35; Hebrews 5:7-9; 7:11-22; 9:15-18; Luke 22:14-20).

The prophet lied, appearing to speak for God, much like false teachers today who don't teach the whole counsel of God, even those who've been misled themselves (Acts 20:20-27; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Jude 1:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). They haven't studied and accepted God's word, the Bible, with an honest heart, and they're teaching a deluded message (Luke

12:15; Jeremiah 23:26). We don't know the fate of the old prophet because of his deception, except that he apparently repented and was buried alongside of the man of God as he requested (2 Kings 23:17-18).

When people repent, God forgives, but harboring even sinful thoughts can be lethal (2 Corinthians 7:10; Jonah 3:1-10; Genesis 4:7; Jeremiah 4:14; Isaiah 45:22). When told the truth, the man of God continued eating without appearing to be repentant. Perhaps he didn't believe the old prophet anymore or thought his earlier obedience and being a "man of God" would protect him with no need to repent. We mustn't think that obedience in one area or at one time will let us off the hook for disobedience in another area or time, except when we repent and seek forgiveness in obedience (Acts 2:38-39; 5:32; 8:9-24; 17:30; 1 John 1:5-10; Revelation 2:10).

We cannot go two directions at the same time (Matthew 6:24; 12:30). It's in our best interest to learn what God wants straight from the Bible (Ephesians 5:8-11). When Christians sin, we have an advocate whose blood continues to cleanse us as we repent and seek forgiveness (1 John 2:1-5). Are you a Christian according to God's terms?

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected]