Watching The Storms

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. Ezekiel 33:6 (NKJV)

Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 33:9 (NKJV)

I am a volunteer member of a group called Sky Warn. What that means is that I am one of the on-the-ground, eyes and ears for the National Weather Service. I report severe weather for my area and, in case of tornado watches or warnings, I look for rotating wall clouds, funnel clouds, or tornadoes on the ground. In this way, I can call in my observations to the weather service. Then the appropriate warnings can go out to the area which, in turn, can save lives.

We have just had a weekend filled with powerful storms. These storms swept through the country from Oklahoma to the East Coast, causing multiple fatalities, injuries, and destruction of property.

Historic Tornado Outbreak: 3 Days, 241 Tornadoes, 14 States
(note: there have been more tornadoes since I started writing this blog.)

Many people knew the location of these tornadoes due to the storm spotters and storm chasers who were tracking these storms and reporting them. These people probably saved many lives.

However, although many people heeded the warnings, many people either didn't listen to the storm reports or ignored the warnings. From one report, there were about a hundred people in a Lowes store in North Carolina totally unaware that a tornado was coming. It was the quick thinking of a store manager and the employees that saved all of those lives.

Now, reports of the approaching storms were all over the TV and radios. Sirens were blowing. From watching the radar, one could see the track this storm was taking and know when to take shelter. So why were many of these people caught unaware? I believe that only they know the answer to that.

Now, what does that have to do with this blog? It's about warnings and the people who listen to the warnings and are saved as opposed to those who ignore the warnings and perish.

2  He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. Matthew 16:2-3 (NKJV)

Jesus and the disciples gave many warnings as did the prophets in the Old Testament. Just as the Israelites didn't heed the warnings then, many people are not heeding the warnings now.

31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Matthew 24:31-33 (NKJV)

We are to watch the signs and heed the warnings. If Jesus comes today, are you ready?

As it is written: “ There is none righteous, no, not one; Romans 3:10 (NKJV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

Salvation cannot be earned. Everyone is a sinner and deserves death but God gives eternal life.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16 (NKJV)

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NKJV)

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5:8-9 (NKJV)

Now just because people don't listen to storm warnings, those committed to warning the public will continue to do so. And just as there are those who are ignoring the warnings from Jesus, I will continue to warn. Whether you decide to listen to the warnings and be saved or ignore the warnings and perish, that will be your choice.

God willing, until next time

Maranatha