The Fire and Axe Head Preacher (Luke 3:17-18)

"[God] is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people. (Luke 3:17, 18 NLT)

So this unusual character rolls into town one day. A street-preacher with a "turn or burn" message. What's even more bizarre is that God had actually sent him to deliver this hard core public service announcement.

Then along comes Jesus, the Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God. Surely he will set the record straight and tell us all about God's message of love and grace.

No wait.
Are you serious, Jesus?
You actually agree with his message and now You're preaching it Yourself!

What's going on here?

How can God love us and threaten us all in the same breathe? That doesn't sound like love, it kinda sounds like oratory manipulation and scare tactics. Nobody's gonna respond to that. Right?

All I know is this crazy street evangelist got everyone's attention and God used him to prepare the way for the Messiah to save the world.

For whatever it's worth, John warned the people of a very real danger and pointed them to safety. Like a good fireman alarming a sleeping family to a fire, John the baptist spoke the truth of God- the truth that God does love people and will go through any lengths to get them to turn back to Him.

When it comes to sin you better hope you have someone in your life like John the Baptist who loves you enough to tell you the truth rather than sweeping it nicely under the rug. The fact is sin is deadly. It will kill you, eventually. But even though God has warned us already, it doesn't hurt to have people around us to occasionally remind us of that fact.

Those who love you the most will tell you what you may not want to hear because they care. Don't write them off for their method without considering that maybe God Himself is trying to get your attention. If that's the case, I can guarantee its better to be safe than sorry when God is speaking.

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