When the Storm Comes

I doubt anyone will ever forget Hurricane Sandy, the devastating tropical cyclone which hit the American north-east in late October of 2012.It remains the largest Atlantic hurricane on record.158 people lost their lives in the United States alone.There was an estimated $70 billion in damages.It took days for the lights to come back in many neighbourhoods.A week afterwards opportunists were reportedly even selling gasoline for $20 a gallon on the black market.

I was living in Hamilton, Ontario at the time and we too were bracing for the storm.Environment Canada issued wind warnings.However, Sandy lost nearly all her strength by the time she made it up across the border.There was a bit of wind and a bit of rain, but nothing extraordinary.Other parts of Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, however, did see more vicious weather.

Before a storm like that hits the US coast, various government agencies issue warnings loudly and publically by every means available.Mandatory evacuation orders are issued.Most people listen, but there are always a few stubborn people who won’t abandon their homes.It happened again with Hurricane Sandy.It was the same story back in 2008 with Hurricane Ike.After that storm hit Texas, a survivor was interviewed on a live TV newscast.The reporter asked her, “Given what you know now about sticking it out through a hurricane, what advice would you give to others when faced with a hurricane warning?”Not hesitating for a second, she replied, “Run!”

When faced with major destructive storms, that is surely good advice.But there is a bigger storm coming – the wrath of God upon the sin of the human race.While no one can say that these hurricanes are a definite judgment of God upon specific human sins, they certainly do remind us that such a judgment is coming.In advance God has told us what we need to know to prepare:“Run!Run to Christ for safety.Don’t get caught in this storm.”This is the message we need to share with all we can.We need to be faithful weather forecasters out of love for our neighbours.We need to be just as persistent and vocal as the National Weather Service.