Articles
Listening To The Warning
Hurricane Florence has just wrecked the East Coast.
I realize, perhaps, the most reviled person is the weatherperson. The weatherperson forecasts all kinds of weather. They warn and warn the storm is coming. They said Florence would be ferocious and it was. They warned of great danger. There were appeals for people to get out of the area.
Inevitably, even with all the warning, there were some who determined to stay. People say, “I have been here since Noah landed on Mount Ararat, and I have never seen a storm that bad.” So they tell the reporters they will ride it out. Now, the weather forecasters may be wrong, and could be wrong. But, they could and may also be right. Looks like they were right this time. Hurricanes have a great predictability to them.
Also, city, county, state, and federal officials tell people, repeatedly, that there will be no attempt to rescue them until the danger has past. They tell the people who stay that they would be on their own. But, inevitably the storm comes, danger threatens and first responders do what first responders do. They respond. People call for help and they were told to get on their roof tops. They were told help is coming in spite of the danger. Heroic pictures flash across the screen of first responders saving some unbeliever or some skeptic, who now is a believer and convinced the storm is dangerous. They put their own lives at risk for the unbelieving.
What is there about people who will not listen to warnings? I must admit, I don’t get it. They are willing to risk their own life, the lives of their family and somebody else’s daddy or husband to save them. Does that make sense? “Well, I want to protect my property.” Protect your property more than your life? Really! And, selfishly endanger the lives of others?
But these are not the only warnings people pay no attention to. People were warned in the days of Noah and nobody listened. They carried on with their every day events. They were told judgment is coming, but nobody paid attention. They lost their lives and their souls (Matthew 24:37).
We are told the Lord will come as a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:4-5). We are warned to be vigilant, watchful, and not sleep. But millions pay no attention to the warning.
Why? Why won’t people listen to the warnings? I don’t know.
But, the real question is, am I? Whether it be a hurricane or the coming of the Lord, that is the only question that really matters.
Rickie
