In a blog about natural disasters, a writer asked a question about people in danger: “Why do people still refuse to heed a hurricane warning only to suffer in the end?”
The writer mentioned the threat of fires that were burning in Houston, Texas, and the calls that went out for the people to evacuate. They were calls that some people ignored. The writer noted his frustration about the reaction to this threat and one involving a hurricane.
“I don’t get it,” he wrote. “I really don’t. Houston and Galveston residents were repeatedly told about the dangers of Hurricane Ike, and still some chose to stay?!”
Sadly enough, the same question can be asked about people who refuse to obey God and respond to His warning about future judgment. The warning is clear: God hates sin, and His judgment — eternal punishment — is awaiting those who die in their sins without Christ.
Judgment for sin will be far worse than any natural disaster. Christ will deal out retribution to the people who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel. “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
Even though the warning is severe, people choose to ignore it, and so do those who ignore the warnings about hurricanes, wildfires and floods. Unfortunately, they do this to their peril.
Despite the awful outcome of living and dying in sin, there is a way of escape. God’s evacuation plan is found in Jesus Christ, His Son. We must put our trust in Him alone to save us. He said, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:2424I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:24)).
God’s evacuation plan from judgment is activated by simple faith. Here is what Christ promised: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
God offers us eternal life as a free gift that can only be received by faith, but if we reject it, we endanger ourselves. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)).
What will you do? Will you ignore the warning? Will you procrastinate and risk your future? Or will you take heed and trust in Christ to be saved?