PERHAPS this is a word that you do not use very often, but I think you know what it means. Sometimes you see a sign which says, “Beware of the dog,” or another which says, “Poison, Beware.” The word means to be careful because danger is near at hand.
Stanley and I were walking together over the hills in the beautiful island of Bermuda. The blue sea was gently lapping at the shore behind us, and fragrant oleanders and lilies were blooming all around us. Everything was so pleasant and quiet that it seemed quite impossible that there was really anything to “beware” about. But suddenly Stanley warned me — “Beware of the poison vine!”
I stopped and looked carefully around me to see the danger, but everything still looked quite innocent and harmless. What should I have done? Suppose I had turned to Stanley and said, “There is nothing here to worry about. I’m sure I can pick any flowers or vines here without harm.” But Stanley knew better than I did, for he lives in Bermuda, and he knew the danger of touching the poison vine. I was standing very near it. In fact I was so near that he warned me that people sometimes are poisoned just by standing too close to it, even though they don’t actually touch it.
Do you wonder that I thought of the danger of sin? With all around us so very pleasant and beautiful, it may seem strange to have someone suddenly say, “Beware!” And yet this world is full of sin; in fact the Bible says,
But this is not all; the Bible goes on to say, “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Is it any wonder then, that we would warn you to beware? But even death is not the end of the story, for the Word of God further tells us, “After this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27). What an awful future! Is there any way of escape? Yes, thank God, there is. God knew of the danger and not only warned us to beware, but sent His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, down into this world to take our guilty place in order that we might be cleansed from all our sins, and might have a home with Him in glory, instead of being lost in hell forever.
Beware now, dear young reader, and accept God’s Son as your own Saviour, for if you reject Him, there is no escape.
Messages of God’s Love 9/29/1957