While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks. ... And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses.
(Numbers 15:32-36)
Kids say, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." In this story, we have a man breaking the Sabbath by picking up sticks. In response to this sin, he was stoned to death. For a few sticks, his bones were broken and his life taken away by stones. All of this because he refused to listen and obey God's Word.
Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can kill you. Especially when you ignore the words of life. Jesus once said to those seeking to kill Him, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it it they that bear witness about Me" (John 5:39). Simon Peter would ask Jesus shortly thereafter, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68).
Jesus is the Word of eternal life. Those who refuse to listen to Him find themselves forever tormented in the lake of fire. Those who do listen to Him find themselves forever glorified in His presence. Don't ignore the Word. It's a matter of life and afterlife. Amen.
