"PAY ATTENTION!"

2 Peter 1:16-21                               (ESV)
"16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, but we were eyewitnesses of HIS majesty.
17 For when HE received honor and glory from GOD the Father, and the voice was borne to HIM by the Majestic Glory, "This is MY beloved SON, with whom I am well pleased,"
18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with HIM on the holy mountain.
19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to "PAY ATTENTION" as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from GOD as they were carried along by the HOLY SPIRIT."



Knowing that someone is hearing from GOD can be a a difficult thing to discern.  How does one KNOW that they are hearing from THE CREATOR or "following cleverly devised myths" that may be authored by the great deceiver?  GOD has a Plan and HE can even use evil men to accomplish that Plan.  Even Pharaoh of old had to give chase to the Israelites before GOD could "get glory over Pharaoh and all his hosts"!

When GOD's Word is being proclaimed by HIS prophet, one sure way to determine if what you are hearing is from GOD is to see how many people are following the Word?  1 Peter 1:19 says to "PAY ATTENTION" as to a lamp shining in a dark place!  "This world" would have NEVER been able to SEE what GOD would be doing, but HIS ways are NOT our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9)!  In the end, the Israelites and the Egyptians believed GOD "AND" Moses!  In Exodus 14:31 the Bible states "Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD AND IN HIS SERVANT MOSES!"  In recent times, GOD has sent modern day Moses' to proclaim HIS Word, but is anybody "PAYING ATTENTION"!!

When GOD gives a multitude of warnings (heart attack, stroke, cancer, etc....), HIS judgement can be monumental!  Just look at the bottom of the Red Sea!  All of the warnings (plagues) sent by GOD seem vividly clear looking back.  Pharaoh and his armies would have done well to "PAY ATTENTION" to what was coming their way.  But they were too comfortable and set in their own ways........TOO COMFORTABLE AND SET IN THEIR OWN WAYS!!

Perhaps the United States could do well to "PAY ATTENTION" to GOD's Warnings HE has sent the United States?  The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the stock market crash of 2008, the attacks on the Benghazi embassy, the numerous terrorist attacks on United States soil, are just a few of the warnings that the United States has experienced.  My prayer is that the United States will not be BLIND to HIS warnings and will "PAY ATTENTION" and turn back to HIM and HIS protections.