SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

As I sit here and reflect upon the impending hurricane the skies are filled with a mixture of white and gray clouds, and the sun is shining on the golf course looking out of my living room sliding glass door. There is little to no wind, and there does not seem to be any danger in sight. Yet, as I look at the weather reports I can see the hurricane, now a category 5, with wind speeds over 170 miles per hour, whirling its way toward the Florida shores.

This morning, as we went to church, and then to our favorite breakfast stop, we both thought – “Is there really a storm coming?” And, then I remembered the Scripture that I read this morning.

• “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers tested me, tried me, and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked to anger with that generation and said, “They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.” So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest.” Hebrews 3:7-11 CSB

The Holy Spirit is much like the weatherman. He is always speaking, always warning, and always calling. Yet, many times it is easy to dismiss His warnings. When you look at the present, and hear the warnings about the future, you are prone to believe the present rather than the prediction. The children of Israel were given God’s commandments, including His promises of blessings and warnings if they were disobedient. They dismissed God’s word and His warnings. They could not see beyond their immediate situation. And, as a result, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.

Every time there is some type of natural disaster we hear the sad news of those who did not heed the warnings, who stayed in the pathway of danger, and who lost their lives. This is tragic and sad. Yet, it is eternally tragic if we dismiss the warnings of the Spirit of God. When we dismiss these warnings, when we turn our back on the Gospel of grace, we face eternal consequences. Much like an impending storm that we do not see, we will all face the day of death. It can be a day of life and eternal blessings, or it can be a day of tragedy and sorrow. It all depends on if we are hearing the loving voice of God through His Spirit!

• “Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 CSB

Lord, give us ears to hear and eyes to see. Help us to see that today is the day of salvation!

In Jesus Name!