Hurricanes do not strike without warning. From the day the first small disturbance is spotted in the tropical waters they are watched and measured and examined constantly. As intensity increases, forecasters begin issuing storm “advisories” which, in time, place an area on hurricane “watch.” At last comes the dreaded hurricane warning and it is time to take shelter - or to escape.
In the case of recent hurricane Andrew there was almost a week of tracking the storm; almost a week when it could be seen blowing in a straight path toward South Florida. There were certainly warnings!
Governor Lawton Chiles issued an appeal on the emergency network, pleading with the residents of the threatened area to evacuate.
The Dade County Manager: “We’re looking at a very, very bad storm and it’s coming straight at us.”
The Director of the National Hurricane Center: “It’s a dead course for South Florida,” and he added, “I hoped I would never experience this.”
Another forecast: “It’s the Big One. We always knew it would come.”
It was hard to believe the warnings. The Sunday before the hurricane it was warm and sunny, with a fitful breeze blowing in from the ocean. Only the ominous red and black warning flags and the serious voices of the forecasters told a grim story of death and destruction heading toward the area.
There were believers. Nearly a million people streamed away from the South Florida coast as the day wore on. Thousands more moved to temporary shelters. As late as 11:00 o’clock that night the stars were shining, but a little after midnight the wind began to pick up. Soon the wind became a roaring gale, and as the storm approached landfall trees began to fall, roofs to blow away and buildings to crumble.
Would anyone willingly brave that storm’s fury?
After the storm the sensible man sadly talked of his brother’s death: “Couldn’t anybody get him inside?”
There were others who refused to leave flimsy buildings, and others with sad stories to tell. But God was merciful, and there was comparatively little loss of life in spite of the devastation. Most had sought shelter in time.
There are other storm warnings flying today. Not just the increasingly severe hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and other upheavals of nature, but the turmoil of the inhabitants of the world. Nations are splitting up, section against section - tribe against tribe - clan against clan. There is crime in the streets; there are monetary crises; there are storm signals everywhere we look. The word today is flee! Seek shelter!
Where?
Oh, not to an underground shelter or a concrete and steel building or a distant safe corner of the world (if there be such!) but to a Person. A Person who is all-powerful, a Person who can say to the wind and the waves, Peace, be still, and the winds and the waves obey Him.
That Person is the Son of God - the Lord Jesus Christ. He offers eternal security to all who put their trust in Him; that means security for ever and ever!
And for now, He will be a sure Guide through all the problems and puzzles of life today. Everyone who has trusted in Christ, who has received Him by faith in His name, can be sure of God’s love and care through every circumstance of life, and a warm “Welcome home!” at the end.
If you find that the winds and waves of trouble are overwhelming you, why not take God’s promise for yourself? Why not experience for yourself that, for those who cry unto the Lord in their trouble, He can make the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
O God . . . when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower. (Psalm 61:1-3.)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled. (Psalm 46:1-3.)
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