Hurricane Jesus

On September 8, 1900, a Category 4 hurricane, with winds of 135 mph, made landfall on the city of Galveston, Texas. Somewhere between 6,000 and 12,000 people lost their lives from this storm. This seems unbelievable by modern standards to have such a large loss of life, especially in the United States, given all the technology we have at our disposal. With radar that can see the storm when it forms you can have at least a week's warning of the storm before it hits. Combine that with around the clock coverage of the hurricane on television and radio and you would be hard pressed to find anybody who doesn't know about the storm prior to it making landfall. Yet, despite all that people still refuse to leave when certain destruction is imminent. And, in most cases, they pay the ultimate price for their stubborness.

"The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away." Matthew 16: 1-4

In this day and age the threat of a hurricane is nothing new and nothing surprising. Still, many people are caught off guard by these storms. How many people are just as unaware and ignorant when it comes to the things of the Lord and the promise of His return? Like those people who try and ride out a hurricane thinking that nothing will happen to them because previous storms didn't harm them, eventually their number will be called. By then, however, it will be too late to do anything about it. Just like weatherman and public officials warn people to be prepared for the coming storm, Christians try our best to warn unbelievers of the pending "storm" coming their way. But, like those individuals who pay with their lives by refusing to heed the warning of those chosen to protect them from the storm, unbelievers risk paying with their lives and their souls for eternity for refusing to respond to God's offer of salvation in Christ. What is strange is that we all know we are going to die. We also know that hurricanes take lives each and every year. We know when to expect them and where they usually strike, but many people still fall prey to them.

"First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." 2 Peter 3: 3-7

Does this sound familiar? We are all familiar with hurricanes and the havoc they have wreaked for centuries. However, time and time again people deliberately forget the power and devastation they possess. The Bible talks about scoffers who are willfully ignorant of the coming of the Lord. They know the Bible has only been proven, never disproven. They are aware of the history of Christianity and how it has stood despite centuries of opposition. They see the hand of God in His creation. They know of the light of God, they have been given, that gnaws at their consciences when they are sinning. But, yet we still have evidence of their defiance.

"Christianity is such a silly religion." -Gore Vidal

"The inspiration of the Bible depends on the ignorance of the gentleman who reads it." -Robert Ingersoll

"It would be more consistent that we call [The Bible] the word of a demon than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind." -Thomas Paine

As I have often said, just because someone says something with passion doesn't mean that what they say is accurate. If you are like me your blood boils when you see people pronounce their defiance of the word of God which such venom. At least two of the gentleman quoted above have passed away. I wonder if they would write these same words today? Regardless, we must remember that these gentleman, and those that share their beliefs, serve as perfect opportunities for us to express the love of God towards them. It is human nature to want to ignore people like this and sit back until the Lord comes, but God does not want anyone to perish. And He wants to use us to express that sentiment to unbelievers.

"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-3

I have family who live directly in the path that Hurricane Ike was taking towards the southern United States this weekend. Up until yesterday, they were not sure when, or if, the storm would strike where they lived. They told me that the storm was going to strike during the middle of the night. Thankfully, they made it through the storm after heeding the direction of local officials. It is interesting that despite knowing the storm was coming they were not certain when it would exactly strike. But, the one thing they did do was prepare for its arrival. Christians have prepared for the "arrival" of the Day of the Lord by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. Now, we act like those weatherman, television and radio announcers who try and warn unbelievers of the coming storm headed their way. We can see storm clouds on the horizon and their are those that will listen to our warning. There are also those that will scoff at us despite the evidence that proves them wrong. I heard that the enormous loss of life during the hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, back in 1900, was due in large part to the curiousity of the citizens. As the storm approached they went to the shoreline to watch it coming. The rising waters of the storm surge caught them off guard to their detriment. We know the storm is coming. Their will be no riding it out or running away from it. The only way to survive the storm is safe in the arms of God through faith in Jesus Christ.