Storm Approaching

 Yesterday afternoon we started getting reports that a severe storm was approaching. One of our families from the church drove through it and sent out warnings that it was headed our way. The local weatherman kept breaking in the program we watched to give additional warnings. We could see on the radar where the storm was and where it was tracking next. 

I walked outside to look at the sky. Sure enough the clouds turned dark. I saw neighbors out looking at the sky as well. The winds howled and suddenly the temperatures dropped dramatically. The signs gave every indication the storm would be a big one. I prayed for protection for our family, property, and for others before going back inside. 

There is a much more severe storm coming in the future. That storm will be the worst in history. It will not last for hours or days. The storm is the Great Tribulation and it will last for seven years. The storm will come in the last days. Days that appear to be at hand. Days where the full fury of God will be unleashed on planet earth and those who rejected His repeated offers of love and mercy. In a series of pounding judgments increasing in severity, a good portion of the world's population will be wiped out in cataclysmic events. 

God has warned of this coming storm through the Bible, preachers, prophets, and signs in the sky. Most refuse to heed the warning. They will ignore the warnings until it is too late. They will find themselves in the middle of a storm they cannot escape nor find shelter. The only shelter is a relationship with Jesus Christ through faith believing for salvation. [John 14:6] It is the only refuge from this perilous storm to come. 

Mockers mock such warnings as this one and scoffers scoff. They refuse to heed these attempts to save their lives from impending peril. Fools say there is no God. Others look to history and refute that many have warned before and nothing happened. They fail to see that we are on time clock ticking down to the end. Every second we inch closer to the end. The approaching storm ripe with the fully fury of God draws closer. God's delay is His compassion to keep giving people chances to heed the warnings. [II Pet 3:3-10]

People take precautions when a severe storm is approaching. We did last night. Others did as well. Why do so many not take the predictions of a far worse storm that will doom them to eternal condemnation seriously? They are lulled to sleep by a godless society who espouse these storm warnings as unreliable or fictitious. Mark it down readers. No matter where you live, no matter your connections, no matter your economic status, and no matter how prepared you think you are, if you have not put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon of your sins and the purchase of your salvation, YOU ARE DOOMED until you have done so. Nothing else and no one else can save you from that coming storm. You have been warned. 

The Journey Home

 Friday morning I got up with a 500 mile journey home in front of me after an annual prayer retreat. I had an early breakfast and then got into the Armada turned left on my route back home. It was one of those tasks that you have to wrap your mind around and gut it out. I can't say I looked forward to the destination but I sure looked forward to getting home. My route included Hwy 287 all the way to DFW with a short detour on I-35 through the thick of metroplex traffic with road construction. Then back to 287 all the way to Claude, TX with a right onto FM 207 to Borger and then a connection with Hwy 136 back to Fritch. 

The first let went smooth through Corsicana and onto Waxahachie. Past Waxahachie the traffic thickened. Moving into Mansfield the traffic got heavier. My first real text of the day was just ahead in Arlington and tons of road construction. Tight turns, boxed in lanes, and navigating new detours made that leg of the journey a challenge. All in all, I persevered and made it into Fort Worth proper. More heavy traffic as usual to get to the other side. I had to grip the wheel a little tighter and be on much higher alert. A little nerve wracking. 

Finally got through the congested DFW area. Then, it was just a long jaunt to Wichita Falls which is a mid sized town. The only concern is making sure you are in the left two lanes to take the Amarillo exit and not the exit leading to Oklahoma. After that, it was just small town after small town, multiple road construction zones, a couple of road side rest area pit stops and a refueling stop. It was perseverance. 

Over eight hours after I started, I pulled up to 411 Coronado St, Fritch, TX. It was a long journey, but I made it back home. 

That reminds me that we are all on a journey home. Many of us as followers of Jesus are on a journey home to Heaven. That is our ultimate destination. It may not be easy to get there. The only ticket for entrance is trusting the Lord Jesus for salvation. There will be detours, bumps in the road, and a few delays along the way. God never said the journey home would be easy. The reward at the end will be worth it. 

My reward upon returning home was to behold my brown eyed brunette beauty of the past 35 years. I also was blessed to see our oldest son and his wife along with Tucker. It was well worth the 500 mile endurance test. Not nearly as rewarding as when we get to see Jesus and enter into an eternal home where roads are paved with gold and the only light is the majestic glory of God. 

No matter what our journeys on earth entail ,a moment with the Lord will be worth it. A million times worth it. Every trial, every set back, every test, every triumph, every tribulation, and every sorrow will be worth it. I thank God that the end of our journeys will be home. An eternal home. We have to persevere to get there. There is an end to our journey. One day followers of Jesus will get home.