Those who are familiar with driving on hill roads would have seen guideposts displaying warnings written in bold red letters on hair pin bends. People heed to these warnings and drive carefully. If a person drives rashly ignoring these warnings, his vehicle will plunge headlong into the abyss and he will meet with a tragic end. Similarly, here are a few warnings that one has to take heed in spiritual life:

1. "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief indeparting from the living God" (Heb. 3:12)(NKJV). All those of us who believed in Jesus Christ and have come into the path of salvation, have left death and received life. They are in the path of life and its end is everlasting life, a great and long life. However if the people who lead such life deny God, backslide and drift away from the path of life, they are entering the path of death. They choose to travel by the broad way that leads to destruction, the end of which is hell burning with fire and brimstone. "Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness" (Luke 11:35). Abide in Him (John 15:4).

2. "See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son" (Heb. 12:16)(NIV). A negligent attitude of, 'Let me enjoy now. I shall seek forgiveness and blessing later' leads to a purposeless life. A life without self-control is a cursed life. Later even if one seeks blessing, he will not get it.

"Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears" (Heb. 12:17)(NIV). Yes!

"When such a person hears the word of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself and therefore thinks, "I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way," the Lord will never be willing to forgive him" (Deut. 29:19,21).

3. "Beware of covetousness" (Luke 12:15). Treasures are not a life line for a man. We can eat only food but not money. Therefore blessings alone are important. Though money answers everything (Ecclesiastes. 10:19), greed for money is to be avoided. Covetous people will try to amass wealth by devious means. They will usurp tithes which belong to the Lord. Such people will be reluctant to give that which is due to the Lord. They will show mercy to the poor and the needy. They will try to amass wealth by lending out money for interest. They will be worried only about money. Covetousness is a master (Matt. 6:24). They will not and can not seek God with a truthful mind. They will hold back wages and deceive others. The Bible states that such covetous people should be expelled from the church (I Cor. 5:11-13). "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from their faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (I Tim. 6:10). The Lord is sufficient to take care of our needs. Therefore leave covetousness and the desire to amass wealth. Do not crave for things that you do not have. Work hard and be content with what you have.

4. "Beware of false prophets" (Matt. 7:15). Those who do ministry in a way pleasing to people and against the will of God, those who do not warn against sin, those who twist scriptures and try to justify any manner of living, those assembly preachers who talk about salvation though they themselves are not saved, babblers, those who do ministry with smooth and cunning words to satisfy their lustful desires, those who are likened to dogs which lap up their own vomit, those who give importance to signs and miracles but leave out salvation and holy life- the scriptures warn that all the above kinds of people are false prophets. The Lord tells us to beware of such false prophets and depart from them (Matt. 7:15-23).

5. "Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see" (Deut. 12:13)(NKJV). There will be a place that the Lord chooses to manifest His name. That is the place where you should worship and offer your sacrifices. Not all places are the dwelling places of God and not all forms of worship are acceptable to God. Only the place where the Lord manifests Himself, the place revealed and chosen by the Lord for the people to gather and worship, is the right place for conducting worship. The place chosen by the Lord is Jerusalem. Be saved from this perverse generation. Join the apostles for worship (breaking the bread). Worship along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart (II Tim. 2:22). Those who worship the Lord must worship with Spirit (with Holy Spirit) and truth (with truthful living). The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering (Gen. 4:4). You too need a Jerusalem. Do not give your offerings in every place you go. Abraham gave the tithe of everything only to the one who brought bread and wine (Gen. 14:18-20). "Let him who is taught the word share in all the good things with him who teaches" (Gal. 6:6). "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house (church)" (Mal. 3:8-10). Do not give your tithe to whomever you like or whatever institution or ministry that you favor. Give your tithe to the one who leads you, the pastors of your church (the church where you pray). After giving your tithe, if you so wish, you are free to give your own money to others. All tithes belong to the Lord. Do not give your tithes wherever you like. If you do so, it will not be accepted by God. "Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land" (Deut. 12:19).

6. Take heed to yourselves that you hallow the Sabbath day (Jer. 17:21-22). These are times when idol worship is widely prevalent. The symbol of the children of God is to observe the Lord's day. But these days even some good Christians also give up attending the Church (Heb. 10:25). Yielding to their own intuition and deceiving spirits, they pacify themselves saying, "Is God only at the church that we have to go and worship Him there alone? Is not God at home also?" They choose to pray at home and prefer to worship sitting in front of radio or TV (these are idols). They are at peace with themselves by taking part in the worship conducted by false preachers by singing and praying, joining the radio or TV. These idols will soon blare out music on Hindu deities and next romantic songs that kindle passion in the listeners. So beware of fake pastors and false prophets who persuade you to worship in front of radio or TV. Be careful to observe the commandment "Do this in remembrance of me" (I Cor. 11:23-26) by breaking the bread and worshipping. Receive the apostolic doctrine. Take heed that you abide in their fellowship and in the breaking of bread and prayer (Acts 2:42). Strive to be godly. Worship the Lord in His presence regularly and without fail at the place where the church of God assembles, especially on the Lord's day. Observe the holy day with holiness. On that day do not do your personal work nor speak your own words (Isai. 58:13-14). Even our Lord had the custom of going to the synagogue, the place of God (Luke 4:16). Are you having the custom of going to the place of God (Church)? Take heed to observe the Lord's day with holiness.

7. "Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time (the time of Lord's coming) is" (Mark 13:33). Sin marks darkness and slumber whereas holy life marks light and the state of wakefulness. We should pray and be watchful. The Lord's day will come soon. Do not believe if anyone claims to predict the year, month and the date of the Lord's coming.

Today may be our last day or the day the Lord chooses to come! Just on the day of peace and prosperity, like a woman in a family way suddenly suffer birth pangs, so shall be the Lord's coming! Beware and be watchful. Heed to the warnings and walk carefully.

"Behold the Lord is coming"