Disobedience - Unbelief, Unfaithfulness - They Wonder Why God Does What He Does

It was a quiet voice, a stirring in your Spirit, the feeling that you shouldn't...the Holy Spirit was being used by your Creator to prevent, protect, and progress you, and what did you do?  You remember those days of disobedience (unbelief in Our Savior and unfaithfulness to God), rebellion against people and things designed to instruct and better you, and a steady decline spiritually due to a variety of sinful distractions.  Back then, you ignored what you know to be true, right, and could help you as well as others.  Could you still be acting that way?  Maybe it is one of your loved ones that calls his or herself a believer, yet you don't see any fruit on that tree due to disobedience.

When you view media stories, notice the signs that the "victim" was being disobedient.  He or she will claim that one didn't know, had no clue, and wasn't warned, but not so for the Christian!  He or she knows better, God speaks, but the question is "Was the believer listening?"  As much as we demonstrate kindness, respect, generosity, patience and love toward our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we also have to caution as well and remind/rebuke them for their disobedience and straying away from the Lord as God leads.  The "victim" who is still in a state of rebellion will get angry and wish evil on us as they utilize our assistance and take our hand-outs, but truth is truth!

How many times does God have to use people, places, and things to warn his people in advance to do things like: move away, let go of sin, trust Him, follow His precepts, and more before believers finally listen and obey?  There is a disturbance in our spirits for those we love the most, but also are not where they should be in Christ.  We know that it is only a matter of time that God's directive will be, "Let him go...don't help her any longer.  We have other things to do."  It is then that the disobedient one will be left alone, set up to pay a dear price for sin.  Sometimes people have to hit rock bottom in order to see the light at the top.  Others (like what happened to Jonah) have to gradually fall before they realize they are off the God ordained path.  They run from God and his commands, forget what Jesus did for them, and don't want to heed the warnings that they are being given leading up to death.

The truth be told due to disobedience many rebellious believers have prematurely entered their graves, lost relationships with children and grandchildren, buried many loved ones (while declaring themselves blessed to be alive), have told many lies and are reaping the consequences, sleeping with the enemy, and giving themselves over to all sorts of false doctrines and false teachers. The pain of witnessing such things for the obedient can be too much to bear sometimes.  This is why we have to look forward and not behind otherwise we can end up like Lot's wife.  A rebellious people who are under judgment are not friends, but are foes and will continue to go through much until they submit to the will of God.

Nothing or no one is worth disobeying a mighty God who is responsible for life and death.

Scripture references to consider:

I Corinthians 6:18
Galatians 5:19-21
Romans 1:18-30
Jonah 1:4-10
Acts 27:13-26
Jeremiah 25:15-33

Nicholl McGuire