On my way to work today, I went through some road construction.  There was a man holding a "stop" sign for traffic.  He was resting it on his shoulder at an angle and the pole wasn't touching the ground.  I could clearly see the STOP, but I didn't know whether I was supposed to stop or not.  There was an uncertainty about it all.  So, I just kept driving.

What about you, fellow Christian?  Are you giving the trumpet a certain sound?  "Certus" meaning a sure sound, a sound of complete conviction?  Or are you lamely blowing it?  We kind of frown on sin a little; we weakly point to the standard of righteousness; but our lives tell the watching world to keep going onward in the broad way that leads to destruction.  No point in stopping; those Christian aren't too sure themselves the way they are going.

Our young people see us dressing, eating, and talking the same as the world; watching and listening to the same music and entertainment as the world; engaging in the same love of rivalry in sports and work.  We even bring these things into the church to try to gain their interest in spiritual things.  STOP!  Interest in what?!?!  Spiritual things?  How do we expect to gain an interest in spiritual things when we are using the things of the world?  Don't you see how the trumpet is giving an uncertain sound?  What a cacophony of noise we hear!  Will the discordant notes bring others to Jesus?  Shouldn't we be using the things of the Spirit to gain an interest in the things of the Spirit?  Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, after all (1 Corinthians 2:14).  

We must sound the trumpet with conviction.  We must call sin by its right name.  We must call sinners to repentance.  The message of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the apostles was one of repentance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Jesus is coming very soon, brothers and sisters.  It's time to polish up the trumpets, clean them out, and sound the alarm!

"If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" (1 Corinthians 14:8)

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