There's a Storm Brewing

People all along the Mississippi and Louisiana coast are nervous this morning. They are nervous because of an approaching visitor named Barry. But Barry isn’t a close relative or friend coming to pay a friendly visit. Barry is a dangerous hurricane bringing the potential of widespread destruction, power outages and the chance for a few tornadoes. There is still some uncertainty as to where Barry will go and who will be effected the most, so we are all watching the sky today, waiting, watching and praying, hoping that God, in His great mercy, will cause the storm to weaken and turn away.

Experience tells me that most people, unfortunately most Christians as well, don’t read the Bible very often. However, I think that they must have heard the words of Psalms 55:8 where David says, "I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” But there is another passage later in the book of Psalms, "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still." – Psalms 107:29

People are making preparation for what is coming. Stores are emptying quickly of all necessities (Walmart was out of bread last night, so no ham sandwich for me). There are long lines of people buying water, food, bread and gasoline and most of those things are now in short supply.

There’s nothing wrong with preparation. In fact, only a fool would ignore the presence of the storm, and not do what they must to protect and provide for their family and property. I hope that all of you are prepared or will be prepared when the storm is due to arrive.

I’ve weathered many storms over the years. I remember Katrina in 2005. I can still remember the house shaking as a large pine tree fell on my neighbor’s house. It was all an adventure back then. But since those days, I have learned a healthy respect for what a strong storm can bring. There have been many smaller storms too. It was one of the smaller storms that put an oak tree on our house. None were much fun, and some were outright frightening. I thank God that He saw us through them all.

I’m so glad that we have men and women in the Air Force who fly “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft to track the storms and give us early warnings. I wonder how it must have been before the days when we were able to see them coming from so far away? I wonder how many people were caught off gaurd in the old days, without warning and without time to prepare? Thank God, we have instruments and people in place that can give us plenty of warning of the approaching storm.

Anyone who doesn’t know of its coming is simply out of touch with reality, because the news is everywhere and on the lips of everybody in the area. You can’t turn on the radio, TV, or read the newspaper, or even listen to a conversation without hearing about it. Simply put, we have had, and continue to have, plenty of warning, and plenty of time to prepare. The storm is on the horizon, and it will surely come, unless God intervenes, so get ready for its coming.

As I watch the news and keep an eye on the weather, I can’t help but think of those who are listening. The fact is that when the call goes out to prepare for the storm on the horizon, there are some who will choose to heed the call, some who will choose to defy they storm and do their own thing, and others who will choose not to believe that there is a real danger. Because of those choices, many will live, but some may die, and all of them, regardless of the choice they have made, will see and experience the storm.

But what really strikes me this morning is that there is another storm on the horizon besides Barry. It’s a storm that is vastly more dangerous than any weather event. It’s a storm that is far greater than any storm that nature can bring. And it’s a storm that will not turn away or weaken in its intensity.

Zephaniah 1:14-18

"The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land."

Zephaniah is describing the greatest storm to ever hit mankind since creation and that storm is on the horizon. It’s not a storm of nature, though nature will be affected. It’s a storm of God’s wrath and judgment that will be poured out on this sinful world.

Our God is merciful! Therefore, He has set in place a vast number of warnings that the storm is coming. He doesn’t want any to be caught by surprise. He doesn’t want anyone to become a victim, or a statistic among the casualties.

God has promised that the storm is coming, but many won’t believe the warnings or heed the call because they can’t see it with their natural eye. The Apostle Peter wrote, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." – 2 Peter 3:9

Since the foundation of the world, and especially in the last 2000 years, we have received warnings on top of warnings of the approaching storm. What are some of those warnings?

Matthew 24:37-41, "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left."

1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape."

2 Timothy 3:1, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."

These are just a few of the warnings, but there are many more. We cannot say that we have not had plenty of warning of the approaching storm. If it catches us off guard, it’s not God’s fault. We have had plenty of time, and we still have a little more time to get ready for the storm on the horizon. But we must get ready. We must watch for clouds to gather and the winds to blow and the rain to come.

We must watch and wait until the Redeemer, Jesus, evacuates us to a place where we will be safe from the storm. But those who aren’t watching and waiting will miss His coming and be left behind to face the storm of God’s wrath, where mercy will no longer be shown to sinful men.

Jesus will come in the clouds. Revelation 1:7, "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen."

Jesus causes the wind to blow. It is the wind of the Holy Ghost as He enters the heart and soul of a man who is looking for His coming. Acts 2:1-2, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting."

The Lord will send the rain. Joel 2:23, "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month."

God wants to pour out the former and the latter rain of blessings upon your life, but if you don’t heed the warnings of the storm on the horizon, then it will be the wrath of God that is rained upon you. Our Redeemer is drawing near to take those who are watching, waiting, and heeding the warnings of the storm to come. He has prepared a place of safety for those who will be faithful and obedient to His call.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Friends, As I survey the warnings and the promises, and all that God has given us, to tell us of the impending storm on the horizon, I can’t help but think of those who have also heard the warnings the approaching storm as well. Some will choose the heed the warnings and they will obey the call to prepare. They won’t sit idly by and be caught unaware and unprepared. They have heard the call, believed the report, and have decided to do whatever is necessary to survive the storm.

Isaiah 53:1 says, "Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"

The rest of that chapter goes on to describe, in very minute detail, the sufferings and the price that Jesus paid for our salvation. I wonder how many will disregard the warnings, or disbelieve the report and be lost?

Many of those who refuse to heed the warnings and defy the power of Barry may be “lucky,” or blessed, despite their hard-headedness. But some may not be so blessed, and they will pay for their stubbornness dearly.

But my friends, let me tell, not one of those who defy the odds and choose to face the wrath of God will escape. They will all perish. The casualty rate will be 100%. Every man and woman, left on this globe, will die in their sins without Jesus if they fail to heed the warnings. Likewise, every one of those who heed the call and repent of their sin, everyone that prepares by being baptized in Jesus’ name, will be sealed by the Holy Ghost, and as they watch and await his coming, will obtain eternal life.

If you don’t believe the report, then your choice is made by default. By default, you will face the dangers alone. Your inaction will prove your unbelief, and you will be caught unaware because, whether you believe it or not, doesn’t stop the fact that storm is on the horizon.

Whether you believe the report or not is up to you. My job is to simply broadcast the news that a storm is on the horizon. It’s coming just as surely as the sun rose this morning. It’s more certain than the sun may rise tomorrow. This is a storm that cannot be compared to any storm of nature in its power and intensity. It’s a storm that will bring judgment upon the heart of every man and woman remaining in the earth and none will escape its power.

Don’t wait until the storm falls on you. It will be too late to prepare then. There will no place to hide and no place of safety, for the whole world will be burned away and there will be no place to go. There is only one place of refuge, the hands of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only source of refuge from the coming storm.

Acts 2:36-38

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.