It was Thursday, and Josh was having a discussion with his mother about the Bible. The teenager did not believe there was a God. He was speaking like a fool! God tells us plainly in Psalm 14:1,1<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psalm 14:1) “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” To show his disbelief in God, Josh finished the discussion with his mother by saying, “May God strike me down with lightning!”
The next day, Friday, Josh and his brother were in the city when a thunderstorm came up. They ran to a park which was close by. The two teenage brothers knew full well that standing under or near a tree in a thunderstorm is a very dangerous thing to do. Josh’s brother ran into the washroom to stay out of the rain, but Josh, in defiance of God, stood by a tree!
The lightning flashed! The thunder was deafening! A bolt of lightning that was very close followed instantly by a crash of thunder made Josh’s brother run outside to see if his brother was okay. He found Josh lying on the ground!
Boys and girls, it is very serious not to pay attention to the warnings of our parents. Josh’s mother had tried to warn her son not to tempt God, but he would not listen. God has warned each of us, “Beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee” (Job 36:1818Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. (Job 36:18)).
God was very kind and merciful to this young man. When struck by the lightning, Josh was only knocked unconscious. He was taken to a hospital, checked over and then released. He does have a burn hole in his hat and a bald spot on his head where the lightning struck him. And he has changed his mind about not believing there is a God. Now Josh needs to believe that God loves him and sent His Son Jesus to die for him.
Boys and girls, how many times have you picked up a Sunday school paper and read it and said to yourself, “I know I should be saved, but not today.” Then you set the paper aside. God says, “Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou SHALT be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
Will you believe God’s warnings?