Saturday morning, September 8th, 1900, residents of Galveston, Texas began to realize that the warnings were true. In the next few hours a hurricane which had been predicted for several days arrived, cutting their ties to the mainland, destroying much of their city, and killing up to 12,000 people in Galveston and the surrounding area, the largest death toll of any natural disaster in U.S. history. Residents had not believed the warnings of impending danger. They had seen some storms before and thought this one would not be any different. Even if it was, they thought there would be a chance to get out at the last moment. But by the time the storm arrived, it was too late.

Monday morning, August 24th, 1992, residents of southern Florida felt the arrival of hurricane Andrew, the third-strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. in the past 100 years. Tracked from its humble beginnings ten days earlier, hurricane Andrew was accurately measured, clocked and analyzed well in advance of its landfall. Hurricane warnings prompted the evacuation of several million people throughout the coastal Southeast. Despite the unprecedented billions of dollars of material damage, loss of life due to Andrew was surprisingly minimal; barely 50 people perished because of the storm.

Some morning, not long from now, the world will awaken to news of another storm. Like before, this storm has been well-forecasted. But this time, the impending danger is not only of loss of life and property, but also of one's eternal soul. The storm of God's judgment for sin is looming on the horizon. His Word, the Bible, is full of storm warnings. "Flee from the wrath to come" (Matt. 3:7).

Heeding the warnings, millions have already evacuated themselves to higher ground. "When we were dead in sins, [God] hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:5,6). Tragically, millions still remain where they are, in their sins, and will only realize the fury of the storm after it has begun and they are eternally doomed.

A similar storm warning was given to Noah several thousand years ago. God told him that "the end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth" (Genesis 6:13). He told Noah to build the ark, which was the only way of salvation from the worldwide flood, and stood as a colossal warning of coming judgment for 120 years as it was being built. Sadly, in the end only Noah and his family heeded the warning, entered the ark, and were saved.

Today's best technology can only give accurate storm predictions a few days in advance. Noah was given 120 years' warning. God in His grace has given much more warning than that for the final storm. Sadly, the warnings are largely ignored.

"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Prov. 29:1). "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" (2 Thess. 1:7-9). "Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth?" (Mal. 3:1,2).

Praise God that He provides an evacuation plan! The storm of God's judgment against sin broke on Jesus, the Son of God, as He died on Calvary's cross, paying the penalty for your sins! All you have to do is admit before God that you can't save yourself from the storm and trust Jesus to be your "Hiding Place from the wind" and "Covert from the tempest" (Isaiah 32:2).

Flee to Christ today! There is no time for delay! Tarry no longer on the way that leads to destruction. Repent of your sins and put your faith in the One who died for you and rose again. In so doing, be assured by God's Word that your soul will be saved forever!

"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 3:36).