“Isaac’s Storm” is a very interesting book about the hurricane that wiped out Galveston in 1900. One of the main plot lines of the book is about how everyone was convinced that a hurricane could never strike Galveston, even as one approached.
The author vividly describes how, as the streets began to flood, people went about their business as if nothing was wrong. Children played in the water, men gathered for breakfast at the local diner, and no one fled from the storm that was about to strike.
Some did not worry because Issac Cline, the national weather service officer in Galveston, assured them it would not be a severe storm. Others simply believed that Galveston was invincible. Some thought that since they had never seen a hurricane strike Galveston, one never would. So, for a number of reasons, people assured themselves nothing bad would happen. And as a result over 6,000 people died one September day in 1900.
Today we can see storm clouds forming on the horizon. There is a moral and spiritual decline that continues to erode our national life. The warning signs are there for us to see—the signs that Jesus is coming soon. They beckon us to return to the Lord and seek refuge in Him.
How will history look back on what we did as the storm approached? Will most of us be like Issac Cline, not taking the return of the Lord seriously—just passing it off and living life as normal?
If you knew that Jesus was returning this Sunday, how different would your life be today? If your life would be different that Sunday, then you are not ready for His return today! Matthew 24:44: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
The storm of judgment of this world is approaching. The Bible tells us about it. The world witnesses to it. Our own conscience warns us of it. Something has to give! We just can’t keep going on thumbing our noses at God and thinking life will just go on.
No one needed to have died at Galveston on that September day. The warning was out there, but no one took it seriously. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”
The church should not be in darkness about this approaching storm. We have the word of God. We have preachers and teachers of the word of God. But today not many preachers are warning about the approaching storm, sadly because many don’t believe it. And those who do preach about it are not being heeded by very many.
Church attendance today is at its lowest point ever for many churches. As a pastor I used to spend most of my time trying to get church members to come to church. I warned them time and time again that Jesus’ return is upon us. My warnings were ignored so I have shaken their dust off my feet and have left them to the Lord.
I pray that we all will be able to say with what the apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:6-8: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Watch sermons and read sermon texts and other articles online at tomahawkmbc.com. Listen to Pastor Jack Ward’s sermons on WSIP FM 98.9 every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Watch his sermons on his Facebook page. Find him on Rumble, Bitchute and Brighteon video platforms.