I SMELL SMOKE

The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not given in marriage. (Psalm 78:63)

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!  That’s why having a smoke detector is critical to fireproofing your home.  The loud alarm can give you an opportunity to escape.  I smell smoke!  I am a spiritual smoke detector sounding a warning that is a life and death matter for your family.  Israel did not listen and perished.  They failed to set a pattern and teach the principles of the Word of God and so family life and national life became engulfed in hell’s inferno (Ps.78:1-8).

That sinful generation is described as UNGRATEFUL (Ps.78:9-16)  They forgot all that God had done for them.  He had blessed them and blessed them, and they just took it for granted those blessings would always be there—and they forgot that a gracious God was the source and the blessings were undeserved.  I smell smoke!  We have modeled ungratefulness as parents and now we have a young generation that virtually has stricken, “Thank you,” from their vocabulary.  Like pigs coming to a trough, we begin to gorge ourselves at the table, few of us raising our heads to the God in heaven who blesses us.  A lack of gratitude in our personal life and family life is an indicator of a destructive fire ablaze.

They were also UNBELIEVING (Ps.78:17-33).  God delivered the Jews from Egyptian slavery by miraculous deeds.  He opened up a highway through the Red Sea to bring them out.  When they were thirsty, He gave them water from the rock.  He fed them bread from heaven.  Yet, every time they faced adversity, they would wring their hands and whine in despair.  They doubted the ability and veracity of God to keep His Word—and that is a horrible sin!  It would shut them out of the Promised Land.  The sin of unbelief is all that will shut us out of heaven.  Yet, I have heard some parents say the stupidest thing, “I’m not going to force religion on my child.  You know my parents made me go to church and I’m not going to do that to my kid.”  Well, I’m sorry that your parents gave birth to such morons!  You may be sentencing your children to hell.  The world will gladly indoctrinate your children if you don’t!

The people of Israel were UNREPENTANT (Ps.78:34-55). They would say the right thing, but it was all a show.  When they got in trouble, they would promise God anything, and as soon as the pressure was off, they were back to their old ways.  Jesus warned, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  Repentance means we turn from sin and turn to God sincerely.  It’s going to take a miracle to fireproof your home.  It will require the power of God.  I am convinced, however, that no matter how spiritually toxic the culture may be, God can bring us and our loved ones safely through--but not if we don’t take our faith seriously. 

Finally, they were UNFAITHFUL (Ps.78:56-72)  They abandoned their love for the Lord and went whoring after other gods— they were spiritual adulterers.  Unfaithfulness to our marriage vows will certainly burn a home down, but that is rooted in unfaithfulness to God.  I smell smoke and where there’s smoke there’s fire!  If we are not faithful to God as parents, then what hope is there for the generations to come?

With the help of God, let us fireproof our home!