Storm
Warnings
Okay…so the Weather Channel is NOT my favorite cable TV
oasis.
But when serious weather is about to hit the fan, I’m
really glad it’s there.
Watches can turn into warnings at any time. Warnings can
turn into outright disasters.
We can approach the topic of "storm warnings" both
literally and figuratively. Sunday, residents of the Florida Keys were told
to evacuate their homes to prepare for the potential arrival of a killer
hurricane named Michelle, packing 135-miles per hour of "magnum
force" isobars in her purse.
Most us can agree it’s not smart to ignore evacuation
notices when the hurricane flags are flying. But I can’t ignore the
nagging feeling that America has been receiving its series of recent
disaster warnings from a higher source than the airborne NOAA hurricane
hunters.
Through the years, through the Bible, generations of
God-seekers with eyes to see and ears to hear have found warnings issued by
the mind of God, conveyed by His word and just begging to be shared with a
nation of potential victims.
Let’s look at some of the recent rumblings that may be
emanating from the throne room of God. Press services report more than 200
small earthquakes shook the area of Mt. St. Helens, Washington, over a
24-hour period, this weekend.
200 earthquakes. Are we listening?
The Anthrax genie is out of his bottle, claiming victims
indiscriminately while the government tells us to be alert for killers too
miniscule to observe. Then, there were the faces of evil so clearly depicted
in the wire service photos taken after those 757’s hit the twin World
Trade Center buildings. Powerful images that continue to haunt us.
I must admit that life would be so much easier if man did
not have to interpret current events in light of Biblical prophecy. The
Reverends Falwell and Robertson would probably agree. When they spoke out
following the September 11th attacks, suggesting that God
almighty might not be too pleased with America and may be attempting to tell
us something, they caught a firestorm that could best be described as
"holy hell."
Soon, Falwell was running for cover, backtracking faster
than Hansel and Gretel on steroids.
But for now, earthquakes, hurricanes and all varieties of
terror do not arrive on our doorsteps with a heavenly return address. And
being a prophet of God remains as dangerous a profession as ever. The Bible
is full of martyrs who offered up warnings from the Lord to a people
unwilling to evacuate their sinful lifestyles.
I wonder how hard-hearted Americans have become. How many
more disasters, natural or manmade, will it take to capture our attention
and change our direction? We seem prepared as a nation to accept God’s
existence, so long as His name is invoked only for the purpose of blessing.
But what if these are not random events and He is attempting to send us a
message of national confession and repentance?
How many will ignore His final heavenly storm warning and
choose to throw a "hurricane party," instead?
God only knows.
Return
to WebToday