The deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history claimed the lives of
as many as 12,000 people. Tragically, there was sufficient warning and ample time for evacuation;
the warnings were simply not heeded.
Saturday morning, September 8, 1900, residents
of Galveston, Texas awoke to find that the warnings were true. Over the next few hours, a monstrous
hurricane cut their ties to the mainland, destroyed much of their city, and killed an estimated
8,000 residents. Galveston had come through storms before, and its people thought this one would
not be any different. Even if the warning were true, they planned to get out at the last moment.
But by the time the storm arrived, it was too late to escape.
For those who live in storm-prone areas, there is a risk of becoming
desensitized by repeated warnings-especially when many of them pass without incident. Nevertheless,
the danger in these powerful storms is still very real, and we are frequently reminded of just
how tragic the results can be when warnings are not heeded, or when storms and natural disasters
strike without any warning at all.
There is another type of storm which has
been forecast for many years, but has not yet occurred. The storm of God’s judgment of sin is looming
on the horizon, and this time the danger is not only of losing life and property, but also of one’s
eternal soul. His Word, the Bible, is full of warnings about this storm. One is very clear: "Flee
from the wrath to come" (Matthew 3:7).
Our sin has put us directly in the path of God’s righteous judgment.
How can we elude the storm of His wrath? By following His escape plan. Jesus Christ, the Son of
God, opened the evacuation route when He willingly died on Calvary’s cross and suffered at the
hand of God, paying the penalty for our sins. Now we must realize our danger and trust Jesus to
be our "hiding place from the wind" and "covert from the tempest" (Isaiah
32:2).
Perhaps you have heard this warning before
and chose not to act on it. Do not let your heart be hardened by ignoring God’s Word any longer.
Flee to Christ today! The danger is real and there is no time for delay; the time to escape God’s
judgment is now. Turn to God and put your faith in the One who died for you and rose again. In
so doing, be assured by God’s Word that your soul will be saved forever, and you will start a brand
new life with God!
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life...He
that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because
he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16, 18).
