Ready for the Storm?

No matter how much warning is given, inevitably people are not ready for when disaster strikes.  There are times without number I have seen interviews of people talking about their near brush with death because they did not evacuate in time to ensure their safety.  Whether speaking of a tsunami, flood, fire, hurricane, there is a common phrase said by those interviewed:  "It just happened so fast.  We didn't have any time."  Please don't misunderstand my point:  many times tornadoes, earthquakes, or fires can be so fierce and unexpected that there was not even enough time to jump into the bathtub.  I don't want to trivialize or appear to blame victims in any way for being swept up in a disaster.

But the brutal irony is that in some disasters which require rescue or some lose their lives, time was actually on the side of the victims.  Their death was preventable, had they heeded warnings in a timely manner.  In some cases, warnings of severe weather patterns were broadcasted many days before the storm hit land.  There was plenty of time for filling sandbags, boarding up windows and doors, and loading up the car.  The government sends messages telling people they must evacuate.  Patrol cars drive up and down streets blaring the warning of the imminent disaster from patrol cars.  In extreme cases, officers walk up to every door to ensure the message is heard loud and clear:  the storm is coming, it is bad, and time is running out.

There always seems to be some people who disregard the warnings and decide to "ride out the storm."  When the fire is roaring towards a home, some choose to stay to fight back the flames from their doorstep with a garden hose.  Others delay because they are unsure if the warning is valid.  Perhaps they had evacuated once before only to have the hurricane miss their area completely.  Just like people question the warnings of the government and weather service, people question the warnings in the Word of God.  Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..."  Every person of the seed of Adam will certainly face death because of the consequence of sin.  For this reason king Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. ¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."  Every man will be judged not according to his own relative standard, but according to God's standard of perfect righteousness.  Romans 6:23 teaches us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  One sin damns a man to hell for eternity, because it is a grave act of rebellion and wickedness before a holy God.

I am convinced that there are professing believers and proud heathens alike who will be snatched into an eternity in hell quite unexpectedly.  The warnings had been broadcast, the message had been played over and over to the point where people weren't affected any more.  In their heart they say, "Time is on my side" and do nothing concerning their eternal salvation.  But who can know when their soul will be required of them?  What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?  There are plenty of people who call themselves Christians who will experience the fires of hell because they have been tricked by the deceitfulness of sin.  They sow to the flesh, reap of the flesh corruption, yet think because they said a prayer, believe in God, and read a Bible they are saved.

When Jesus wrote the letter to the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22, He revealed their true condition.  They were convinced they were living righteously, honouring God, and glorifying Him.  Their wealth and health was a testimony of God's favour because He approved of them.  They were deceived, being far from God.  Revelation 3:17-20 reads, "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."  God has given us His Word, prophets, teachers, each person his own conscience, and sent Jesus to be the Saviour of the world and shine bright in the darkness.

Think of it!  A storm of judgment is coming for those who practice sin in the church, for such shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21)!  The patrol cars have blared the warning, and see the blackened clouds building off the coast!  Last of all, Jesus Himself knocks at the door, calling out, seeking to save those who are lost.  He offers Himself as a sacrifice for sin so all might repent, believe on Him, and live for Him.  If you will not respond to the warnings of scripture or Jesus Christ Himself, how can you be saved - you who are like those in Laodicea?  Will you even now lay hold of the promise in Hebrews 9:27-28:  "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."

Are you eagerly waiting for Jesus Christ?  Or drunk with sin do you say, "Not yet, O LORD."  Praise God that He is patient and faithful.  Time rushes away at the speed of a cyclone.  Will you listen to the words of Jesus Christ and build your life upon Him as your Rock of Salvation and follow Him to the end?  Or will you build upon the sinking sand of worldly desires and aspirations?  Jesus says it best in Matthew 7:21-27:  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' ²³ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' ²⁴ "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."