BEWARE OF THE KLEZ!!!!

Mankind has not devised a punishment severe enough for the joker who invented the klez computer virus.  In a moment, in the twinkling of the eye, what was once a powerful and efficient tool, my computer, was reduced to lunatic babbling and spreading its insane joy to others who were unsuspecting and undeserving.  Before it was done, it had disabled several of my vital programs and wiped out many of my document files.  I don’t know the damage it caused others.  If you got the virus from me, accept my deepest apologies.  I don’t know who I got it from or when, but it did its work.

Ever since I got involved with computers I was given the warning:  “Virus protection is something you must have.  Get it and keep it updated.”  But did I listen to the warnings?  Did I take them seriously?  Of course, I did not.  I thought that I could take care of my computer by merely not opening strange emails from people I don’t know, and by following that sage advice to never open an unexpected attachment.  I was a careful caricature of arrogant humility.  And I was a victim.

It seems that all through our live we are continually being warned about something:  “Check your oil,” “Look both ways,” “Lock you doors,” “Remember the yearly physical.”  We get all of these warnings, and most of the time nothing happens – or at least it seems the consequences of not heeding are minimal.  We get tired of hearing the same things over and over, so the tendency is to ignore the warnings unless they are so loud that we can’t anymore, or we see that what is being warned about is about to happen.

In the Bible we are also given warning which we take too lightly. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15).  “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision” (Phil. 3:3).  “… beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Peter 3:17).  All three of these passages warn against those who would teach error.  The destructive nature of false doctrine evokes warnings throughout the Scriptures.

Paul continues to warn that religious error emits not only from those who are outside the body of Christ, but sometimes from those who are members (Acts 20:29-30). 

Just because we like someone or have known them for a long time doesn’t mean they are okay.  Some of the people we love the most are carriers of the world’s most dread diseases.  We must be careful to examine all that we hear in the light of what the Bible says, regardless of how we feel about those who are speaking (Acts 17:11).

Many warnings in the New Testament are begun by the phrase “Take heed.”  For example, Paul says, “Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8).  Here is another warning against the peril that error presents.

“Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:16).  Here is a warning to Timothy to be careful, not only about his teaching but the little sins that often creep into our lives.  Peter uses more flamboyant language when he says, “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).  The writer of Hebrews says,  “Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God” (Heb. 3:12).  We are continually warned about the temptation that is all around us, and sometimes, because we are so comfortable in our surroundings, we ignore the warnings.

We are also prone to ignore warnings about the shortness of the opportunity that we have to obey the Lord.  “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” (1 Thess. 5:4).  Paul warns of the suddenness of the second coming, when others are complacent, when they are saying “peace and safety” – “time enough yet” – destruction shall come upon them.  Jesus warned, “Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour” (Matt. 25:13).

The tendency of those of the world, even some in the church is to pass off lightly the warnings concerning death and the 2^nd coming.  We daily have illustrated the truth that God has given us so clearly in the Scriptures.  When he says in the Hebrews 9:27 it is appointed once for man to die, he is not revealing anything.  He is merely stating that which can be easily observed by us if we pay attention.

I was warned about the klez viruses, how easy it is to get them, and the damage they can do.  I ignored the warning.  I was too careful, it wouldn’t get me.  I even became a little resentful of those who warned me.  Then I got one of them.

We all have been warned about spiritual circumstances for which we might not be prepared.  Heed the warnings.  Don’t ignore them.