As Mrs. Torrey cleaned up her kitchen, she thought how strange the weather was for this time of year. It was January and unusually warm—almost 70 degrees! The sky was growing dark and it looked as if they were in for a storm. As she looked out the kitchen window, she could see the trees swaying in the wind.
Hearing the rumble of thunder, Mrs. Torrey suddenly remembered that her little dog was outside. She dried her hands and went to the front door to call her dog. As she opened the door, a flash of lightning clearly showed a tornado off in the distance and coming toward the house! Horrified, she urgently called, “Tippy, Tippy, come, quickly!” She searched the growing darkness for the little dog and frantically called again, “Tippy!” The little dog sprang into the house, and together they hurried to the basement stairs to go down to a safe spot. As Mrs. Torrey started down the steps, she knew that the tornado had already reached them. She could hear the fury of the wind and the frightening roar of the tornado.
Storms often speak to us of judgment. Exodus 9:23-2423And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. (Exodus 9:23‑24) tells us what happened in the land of Egypt. “The Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire [lightning] ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and [lightning] ... with the hail, very grievous.” The Egyptians had been persecuting the children of Israel, so the Lord was judging the land of Egypt because of it.
When King David cried to the Lord for relief because of the persecution of his enemies, Psalm 18:13-1413The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire. 14Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. (Psalm 18:13‑14) describes how the Lord answered that prayer: “The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave His voice; hail stones and coals of fire. Yea, He sent out His arrows, and scattered them [David’s enemies]; and He shot out lightnings, and discomfited [upset] them.” God used that severe weather for good—to get rid of David’s enemies.
Many people, especially children, do not enjoy thunderstorms. At night some will pull the covers over their heads and plug their ears! And certainly we all would fear a tornado. Sometimes God sends severe weather to remind us that judgment is coming on this world full of sin. Hebrews 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27) tells us that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” The next time there is a thunderstorm, remember that it is reminding you of the power of God. But also remember that “there is therefore now no condemnation [no judgment] to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:11There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)). “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:1717For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17)). God loves you and wants to save you from the coming judgment.
Mrs. Torrey, who is a dear Christian lady, and her dog were kept safe during the tornado. Later when she looked outside, she was shocked and saddened to see the destruction from the tornado. A tree had been uprooted in the neighbor’s yard on one side, and on the other side the tornado had destroyed her neighbor’s garage. Three houses away, four of her neighbor’s houses were missing—completely gone except for the foundations. Other homes had been completely destroyed in the town, but not one person was killed. The tornado had come on a Saturday evening, and many people were not home. However, they all had a big cleanup job ahead of them—rubble was strewn everywhere.
The Lord Jesus is in control of the weather. In Mark 4:37-4137And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:37‑41) we read about one time when He was on earth and a storm came up. “There arose a great storm of wind and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” And this is what He did: “He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Let’s remember that God wants all men to be saved from that storm of judgment that is coming. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, for that very reason. He wants to save us from our sins so that we may be safe in heaven when He sends that judgment. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
Have you come to the Lord Jesus to be washed clean from your sins? Are you safe from
the coming storm of judgment?
ML-07/11/2010