Spring has to be one of my most conflicting seasons to celebrate.
Sure, I love the newness, colorful flowers, warmer temps, and celebrating our risen Savior on Easter Sunday. However, at least for those of us located here in Dixie Alley, the constant changes in temperature always seem to result in severe weather. Over the last three weekends, we have found ourselves at an elevated risk for such weather and tornadoes.
This past Sunday, we found ourselves in this predicament once again. Just as I was tidying up our kitchen before bed, my husband and I heard the sound of sirens blaring through our phones. We were under a tornado warning – not a watch, but a warning.
Watches are common around here when the weather looks threatening. Sometimes, we may have a “watch” that lasts all day. It indicates that although nothing has been observed, the conditions are favorable and can change rapidly.
Yet, warnings warrant immediate action.
In junior high, my classmates and I went to a neighboring town to help clean up after a tornado ravaged the city. The devastation was gut-wrenching. A few windows had been blown out on one side of the street. But directly across stood nothing but shambles and wreckage where a family’s home full of memories had stood just days before. In that particular storm, 23 individuals tragically lost their lives.
The experience opened my eyes to the deadly reality of these storms.
As we made sure that everything in our house was in order and our safe space was cleared out this weekend, I couldn’t help but recall the words from Psalm 91 as I prayed for protection over our home. Thankfully, the Lord answered that prayer and delivered us from the dangerous weather.
Yet, that warning call compelled me to recall something else that is too dangerous to ignore.
In Hebrews 12, we are given another warning that warrants action. Although tornado warnings are essential for our safety and should be taken seriously, the gravity of this warning in Scripture is more significant than any other warning throughout history.
It says:
See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12: 25-29). Emphasis added.
For us, as Christ’s followers, the hope of a new heaven and new earth is an exciting promise. But when we think about the truth of this passage and the severity of its warning, how can it not compel us to share the hope of the gospel with those who do not know Him?
On Sunday night, our local meteorologists pleaded with the viewing audience to ensure that they called their loved ones who might be sleeping and were in the storm’s path, waking them up in time to prepare. My family was one of them.
Likewise, the time is coming when we will no longer have the opportunity to share the hope hidden within us. It will be too late.
In the meantime, lost souls are hanging in the balance.
Our lost friends, family, co-workers, and loved ones are on this dangerous path that leads to destruction. They all desperately need the hope found only in our Savior.
If we genuinely believe what is written is what will happen in the last days, we must heed this warning and share the gospel with those without it. As powerful as springtime storms can be, they don’t stand a chance against the all-consuming fire that is our Lord.
