Avoiding the deadly danger of false teaching

March 28

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. - 2 Timothy 4:3

Many years ago there was a terrible railroad accident in the Eastern U.S. that claimed many lives and caused even more terrible injuries. A train loaded with young people was stalled on the track, and another train was just a few minutes behind it, traveling at full speed.

A flagman was sent back to warn the oncoming train’s engineer in order to avert a collision. Suddenly, the whistle of the oncoming train was heard just seconds before it crashed into the sitting train. The engineer of the oncoming train jumped out to save his life, but was then brought into court for his part in the tragedy.

When asked why he didn’t stop when he saw the flagman waving the red flag, the engineer was adamant that he saw the flagman waving a yellow flag, which communicates “slow down” instead of “stop.” When the flag was produced in court, the problem became evident. The “red flag” had faded over time to a dirty yellow, a slight change in color costing many lives.

How many lives have been eternally wrecked by the “yellow” preaching of self-betterment and feel-good faith that really misses the biblical gospel? Don’t wave the yellow flag of a more palatable message. Wave the red, blood-soaked flag of the cross of Christ and show others the real way to eternal life!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to give you the courage to share the full message of Jesus Christ with others.

Questions for Thought

Why do you think it’s easy for many to shrink back from sharing the real message of the gospel?

What steps can you take to be better sharpened to share the message of Christ with others?

Visit the Senior Living Ministries website

Visit the Senior Living Ministries website