You often hear about massive pileups on the highway due to fog, snow and speed. Many are unaware of what is ahead of them and then suddenly it is too late as had they made no changes to their driving according to the conditions. Also, it seems that any type of accident on the highway can back up traffic up for miles. Serious accidents can shut a highway down for hours. Often if you are going the other way you can pass these traffic jams and see cars coming that have no idea they will be waiting for hours.
Being unaware can have serious ramifications. “Unaware describes someone who does not know, notice, or realize that something is happening or exists. It indicates a lack of knowledge, information, or consciousness about a particular fact or situation. Being unaware often implies being caught off guard or acting without prior knowledge of circumstances.” The word oblivious means the same. “It is usually in situations that involve being totally unaware of what's staring us right in the face.” Oblivious seems to imply ignoring the obvious which talks about being ignorant which means “a lack of knowledge or information.”
Although being unaware, oblivious or ignorant when it comes to driving can lead to waiting, damage to your vehicle and to your own self / family, and in some cases death, of which most are unprepared for. When a person is unaware or oblivious when it comes to where they will spend eternity, it is crucial that you make a change in direction and make sure of your eternal destination. Don’t just believe what someone tells you; test the spirits. Many are told by coming to their church, believing their doctrines and theology, that all will be well with their souls, but that just isn’t true. The problem is that most just keep comfortably heading in the same direction, totally oblivious and ignorant as to what is ahead. Jeremiah 8:4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “‘When people fall down, do they not get up? When someone turns away, do they not return? 5 Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. 6 I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle. 7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.” Jeremiah 4:2 “My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.” Jeremiah 5:30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” What will we do in the end or where will we be in eternity is a question we all should be asking.
Jesus warned us the way is narrow, not wide. Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Notice that Jesus also warned about the false teachers who are leading those who follow through the wide gate. Peter said, 2 Peter 2:17 “These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” Jesus then said Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Paul also said, Acts 20:29 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” Many quote Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” And then feel secure as the worship a different Jesus and follow other gospels. Jesus continues and says, Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” That is because you cannot follow a different Jesus and be saved. 2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”
Because the church has rebelled and followed a different Jesus and other gospels, just as Israel and Judah followed other gods, God allowed the abomination that causes desolation prophesied about in Daniel to decimate the church. Israel and Judah were taken captive, at least those who survived. Daniel 9:7 “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. 8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. 9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.” Jesus talked about the severe destruction caused by the abomination that causes desolation after warning us not to be deceived and then says, Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.”
So many people are unaware and oblivious as to where they will end up spending their eternity. Most go to church, said a prayer or confession, got baptized and have a false sense of security and think they will hear, Matthew 25:23 “Well done, good and faithful servant! 34 ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” But instead, because of rebellion, will hear, 41 “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” As we were warned, wake up and make sure of your salvation. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
