A theater manager was interviewing for a new usher position and asked the candidate, “What would you do if a fire broke out during a show?”  The young candidate confidently answered, “I’d be fine.  I’d get out of there really fast!”

Are we like that young man sometimes?  We’re comfortably safe as a Christian.  We know God.  We know he loves us. We know our sins are forgiven.  We’re safe from hell.  We got out of danger real fast so everything is okay right?  Are we forgetting something, or someone?

In Ezekiel 33, the man of God was given a charge.  He was to be a watchman.  His job was not to escape danger, but to warn others of the danger coming.

If the people heard the warning and listened, great!

If they heard the warning and failed to listen, terrible!

If the watchman failed to warn them and they were destroyed, even worse!  The people are destroyed and the watchman would be guilty of their blood.

It’s not enough to get out safely.  We have a similar charge from Jesus in Mathew 28 to warn others of the danger and to bring them to obedience.  Paul emphasizes this in I Corinthians 9:16 when he says, “woe is to me, if I preach not the Gospel.”

Don’t be discouraged if the crowd doesn’t heed the warnings.  Not everyone will listen.  But we have to do our part as the watchmen to sound the alarm.  How’s yours sounding?