You see riding bikes at Camp Okoboji is the thing to do. Our kids and my nieces and nephew just absolutely live for it. The camp is set up well for the kids to ride bikes. There are very few obstacles that get in the way while zooming around camp with friends. Every once in a while someone walking down the sidewalk or even a car will get in the way. “Watch out for that person, Jacob.” “Look out for that car, Benjamin.”

Our bike riding this year didn’t stop at camp. Last week Andrea, the boys and I went down to English Landing and did more bike riding. And if you didn’t know, riding bikes with kids has a level of anxiety all its own – especially when they are first learning. In other words, riding bikes with your children can be nerve wrecking. “Watch out for that car!” I shout. “Look out for those people!” I yell. I have said, “Watch out” more times the past couple of weeks than I can ever remember.

“Be in the state of alert,” said Jesus. “Be on one’s guard against,” said Jesus. “Beware,” said Jesus – not of a seven-year-old or a ten- year-old on bicycles. Rather, beware, be on guard against, be in a state of alert, and watch out for false prophets. These are much more dangerous than any car or person on the sidewalk. The reason: they can hurt more than your body.

Jesus says that “false prophets” come in “sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” Usually when we talk about our “fruit” as Christians we talk about the product of our faith – our good works for our neighbors. But since we are talking about a prophet here in Matthew chapter seven his fruits must be what he prophesies – not his outward deeds. It’s his message, his teaching, and his words that we are talking about here. And these words can kill if they are words that are leading the people away from the truth in Christ Jesus – that all are saved by His precious death on the cross and in no other place. A false prophet’s fruit is his misleading teaching.

Watch out! Beware! Be on one’s guard against! Be in the state of alert – for false prophets? Is that it? Is Jesus really telling us to look out for people who don’t tell the truth about God? Is that what Jesus is getting all worked up about? Translated into the context around us today – the world and all its threats and pearls – this small detail seems almost insignificant. We have alert systems that have been put into place in case there is a national emergency and our country is threatened by a terrorist attack. Since 9/11 a color coded alert mechanism has been put into place so that you can see for yourself if the threat is elevated or just high or worse. This is a way that our government has devised a way to say, Beware, be alert… something that could threaten our national security is out there.

My family just recently got a weather radio. It will alert us if there is a storm warning in the area. The thing makes a horrible noise loud enough break ones ear drum to alert us if there is a severe weather situation threatening our area. Then we could take cover. Watch out! Beware! Be on guard against.

There are reverse warning sounds and lights on cars and trucks. There are warning sirens in our neighborhoods. There are so many different alert systems that help us to know when danger approaches. With these warnings we can take cover, protect ourselves. We can, watch out, be on guard against, be in the state of alert.

But again I ask – for false prophets? Is that really what can hurt us? We know that tornados, hurricanes, attacks on mankind and the like can hurt – even kill – but false prophets? Can they really do any damage to me? I know better. You know better. You are people of God fed by the very Word of life. There is no other truth than the truth that is proclaimed from this precious Word that He has given to us. You know better because you are a Christian and you know where your life stands and falls. You know better – or do you?

The reason why I ask is because our world today feeds God’s people like you a line of absolute rubbish each and every day. And this rubbish would take what Jesus says about “false prophets” and say, “Jesus’ words are of absolute no consequence.” The reason: there are no false prophets. How can the world we live in say such a thing? Because the world does not know, care about, or even consider for a single moment that there is one truth – “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God the Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph. 4:5). To say such a thing, to the world, is more dangerous than to confess the truth. To say what Jesus said right before our text starting at verse fifteen says, “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life…” is completely misunderstood or simply ignored by the world we live in.

Beloved in the Lord, beware, watch out, be on guard against that which leads you off the narrow path to righteousness. The simple things in life can be our ultimate stumbling block. We can get caught up in the things that continue to distract us from this place and His Holy Word. The busyness of life gets in the way of the narrow path and can speak to us like a false prophet that puts priorities on other things. Priorities get out of whack in a hurry when even those around us demand participation in other things that may lead us away from opportunities to serve or, better yet, to be served by our God in this place.

Like I said, I just got back from vacation – and every year we go to a Lutheran Camp – Okoboji. Those who work at the camp share how kids don’t attend camp anymore. Why? Because of gas prices – yes. More so because there are so many other summer activities. If your child is going to be on the basketball team or the wrestling team – he or she is required to be “at camp” over the summer. Not church camp – but wrestling camp or basketball camp. Summer fund raisers for music trips that the school will attend. Summer workshops for employees and trips for other reasons – they all are small but effective ways to “get us off track” the narrow path that leads to righteousness.

Beloved in the Lord, I want to qualify such words with this statement: I am not saying that being at band camp, or basketball camp, or an employee workshop is a bad thing. Participation in such things can put you as a Christian in places where you can be a public witness in faith of Christ our Lord. That is a blessing. But beware, watch out, for we dare not tread down the path of carelessness and have these sorts of things take precedence in our lives.

Rather beware – or should I say, be “aware” of where you receive the Lord’s life and strength. Be aware and watch out – or should I say, “watch” for our Lord’s coming to us in the means that He has set aside for our goodness. We are privileged to be in the midst of a community of believers who witness and testify of our faith to one another. We testify of what Jesus has done for us in a bloody horrible death that today saves us. We testify as witnesses when we have the opportunity to go out there with a true confession of our faith that stands firm on what Jesus tells us is priority number one – that which to truly “watch out” for. I want all of you to rest assured that you are the ones who are “doing the will of the Father” when you confess with a true faith, asking for the forgiveness earned by Christ for you, living in a life granted by God to live. The will of the Father, beloved in the Lord, is the confession of faith that He is truly our God and that only by Him we have life. May God grant us a willing spirit to submit to His faithful gift and live God’s life for us, rather than the worlds life which doesn’t include God – or includes everything (even that which is wrong) with whichever god one chooses.

Beware! Be “aware” – this is the table, this is the place here, where God give you strength to be about your days – days of suffering – days of joy – days of sadness – days of gladness. The cross is where our Lord meets us today. If there is ever a message, a word, a work, that leads us away from that place – Watch out and beware. Run, away and run toward the cross. There is where you receive everything you will ever need. Here is where you receive that life. Amen

The peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.