The nation has been consumed with Hurricane Ike for the last two days. For a few hours even politics and Sarah Palin reports were pre-empted. I was fascinated by the updates and progress reports. The forces of nature have a way of showing how helpless and vulnerable we are even with the latest technological advances. Especially entertaining are the brave, or is it foolish, reporters who stand outside in gale force winds so that we can experience the deadly storm in the safety of our family rooms. I watched as Geraldo was swept off his feet when a debris-filled wave hit him in the shins. Another reporter expressed shock that over 10,000 citizens had decided to stay on Galveston Island although the National Weather Service had issued the dire warning of “Certain Death” for anyone not leaving. “We heard the warning of Certain Death,” he added, “As we were driving in.” Am I the only one who saw the irony in this situation?
The scenario that sticks in my mind was captured on a cell phone and transmitted live to Fox News. The caller was a bartender at a local bar on the island. She said there had been 10 people lined up waiting to get in when she had opened earlier. By 3:00 p.m., Texas time, over 20 people had gathered to party, drink and wait out the storm. They were laughing, dancing, drinking from glasses and turning up bottles to keep the rowdy atmosphere rocking. The news anchor asked the caller if she had heard the warning of “Certain Death.” The bartender said, “I hope that doesn’t happen. We’ll pray and ask God to keep us safe.” The reporter then urged the bartender to warn the patrons and at least tell them that if they stayed in the bar, they would die. “Please tell them, they are going to die,” he said. The bartender said she would tell them and hung up. I heard on a later report that the customers had second thoughts and later dispersed. If only we could get the same response as we sound the alarm to a dying world.
Matthew 24: 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Every day we encounter people seemingly unaware of the approaching storm. The warnings of “certain death” are being broadcast through world political events, natural disasters and God’s modern day prophets, yet sin continues. Let us take one more opportunity, as the reporter did, to plead again with a lost world. Can we sound the alarm a little louder, a little more forceful to let them know, “Please, you are going to die!” Would you be bold for 10 souls, for 5, for just 1? This week think of one person in your life that you need to warn of impending destruction and pray that God would open the door of opportunity to let them know one more time that they are traveling a road to “Certain Death.”
