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| Picture taken from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25253080 |
Sitting in my office I could hear the strong winds buffeting the
building and making things rattle outside. It was not a pleasant experience but
it was nothing compared with what some people have suffered in recent days. Storms
have pounded Scotland and parts of northern England and surge tides are about
to bring flooding to parts of the east coast. These are not happy days for some
who will be worried as they survey the damage to their properties and wonder
how it will be paid for, or whether there is the likelihood of more.
Of one thing I am sure. I am grateful that I was not out upon the sea
in any part of that storm that hit our coast. The news programmes indicated the
number of people who had been rescued from inland properties as the floods hit,
but what of those at sea?
I thought of an occasion that the Bible records. Some experienced
fishermen were working on the sea when, without warning, a ferocious storm
arose. With every sinew of their bodies they fought to stay afloat as the wind
blew and the waves pounded into the boat. They were in real fear for their
lives. Fortunately for them there was one person in the boat who could provide
a solution to their panic and fear. That person was Jesus Christ. As one said
on another occasion, “Lord, save me”, he found in Jesus Christ One who was
willing and able to save.
One of the benefits that we have living in the 21st Century
is adequate warning of dangers. The Environment Agency issues colour coded
alerts to warn us of the dangers – storms, snow, flooding. We can make
preparation, just in case the worst happens. The Bible issues a warning as to
the dire consequences that await those who reject Jesus Christ and His message
of salvation. What should we do to escape God’s judgement upon our sin and
disobedience? We need to cry, like Peter the apostle, “Lord, save me”. I
imagine some people smiled when the latest warning were issued. “Storms? We’ve
heard that before, and it never happened!”
