Warning

Its funny how when I teach a lesson for the Junior High service the topic seems to apply as much to my own life as it does for their lives. This morning I taught about the warnings we waste in life and used the passage from Genesis 4 on Cain & Abel. Cain received a warning from God (But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it) that he ignored and paid the ultimate price. I wonder how often I ignore that very same warning from God. I choose to make poor decisions and that leads sin into my life. The crappy thing is that I know better. I read the warning God gave Cain and it is blatantly obvious what Cain needed to watch out for. Yet in my own life I repeatedly ignore warning signs that if I would pay attention would keep my life out of trouble. How many poor choices and bad decisions could I avoid by simply applying one of the first warnings God gives mankind? It sometimes seems like sin is not that big of a deal and that at any moment it can easily be controlled. The idea of sin lurking around, crouching, ready to pounce on my life and dominate my life seems unrealistic. Yeah right sin could have that much power and control...right? Unfortunately I don't think I realize the destructive nature of sin until its too late most of the time. I miss the warning and pay the price. Perhaps the time has come to realize how critical this warning from God is and heed its advice. How much trouble listening to it would have prevented for Cain's life, my life, and the lives of the Junior High students I taught this morning is astounding. Its the simple warnings in life that seem to have the biggest impact.