God Spared Their Lives

The spring of 2019 was a particularly bad year for tornadoes. In March, the residents of Paducah, Kentucky, were going about their daily business when they were hit with an EF-2 tornado. A day care with 40 preschoolers and 10 staff members was in full swing at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. With the sirens going off as the pressure mounted and the roof being sucked off the building, the staff hurried the children into the innermost room of the building. It is not hard to imagine just how frightening this must have been for the children!
It was later reported that the children and staff trusted in God’s protection by singing songs such as “Jesus Loves Me” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” Did God hear? Yes, He did! Not one child or staff member was injured, even though most of the roof was torn off and every room in the building showed damage except for the one they were sheltering in. Staff and church members were quick to give glory and thanks to God for His protection.
“The almighty hand of God has provided safety to our community,” Sheriff Matt Carter told the West Kentucky Star. “The destruction path is approximately five miles long.” Only three homes were ruined and another half dozen suffered moderate to severe damage.
“This could have been an extremely high fatality rate, and we’re very fortunate and blessed to only report  ... one minor injury,” Carter added.
God is all-powerful to save; it doesn’t matter whether it’s storm, fire or even death, as our next story will show. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:11Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1)). It is His delight to answer a sincere call for help in time of trouble. It is easy to recognize our need in times of disaster, but what about our need to be delivered from certain separation from God and spiritual death for all eternity if we don’t call out to Him in true repentance for our sins and rebellion towards Him?
God says of each one of us that our need is desperate and only He can save us. God says “all have sinned” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), that there is “none righteous [good], no, not one” (Romans 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)), and that “all our righteousnesses [good works] are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)). When we cry out to God in true repentance, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:1313And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)), then God is faithful to forgive us. “The Lord is nigh [near] unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:1818The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18)). God has determined our eternal destiny by the choice we make towards Him and His plan of salvation. He has in plain words told us what it will be. “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 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 3:17-1817For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He 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 3:17‑18)). Oh, be careful with the choice that you make — it is THE most important decision that you will ever make in your life!
Saved From Death gives one more demonstration of God’s mercy.