A Tornado Reveals The Truth

Please continue to join me in praying for the people in Moore, OK and let's remind each other that there is comfort, healing, and hope in Jesus Christ.

Now, I would like to make a brief observation if I may. I've officially seen it all, my friends.

Here's a simple study in contrasts following the tragedy in Oklahoma earlier this week.

Let's play a little game of "One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other," shall we?

Exhibit A:



Exhibit B:

I'm utterly speechless, but not entirely surprised since the Word of God explains why we will see such blatant disregard for and rejection of the Lord from others in this life (here's a hint: it's a single word that starts with the letter 'S').

Psalm 14:1 (ESV) ... The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

Psalm 53:1 (ESV) ... The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

Romans 3:9-12 (ESV) 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

Interestingly enough, there's another passage of Scripture that comes to mind in this case, because it touches upon all aspects of this story. Simply put, it describes God's righteous wrath upon unrighteousness.

Romans 1:18-32 (ESV) 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

[emphasis mine]

In this stark study of contrasts we find that a tornado reveals the truth.

In this world, we are all sinners in need of God's saving grace (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:9-12).

Those who have heard His voice like that little old lady exhibit fruit that they have responded to His call (John 6:44; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30; Romans 1:16-17).

Those who have rejected Him like that young mother continue on in their hard-heartedness even despite having gone through an unfathomable ordeal like this (Psalm 14:1; 1 Corinthians 1:18).

Going back and watching that clip of the Atheist again, I found it incredibly heartbreaking that she (and CNN's Wolf Blitzer) laughed like they did when she proclaimed her rejection of the Lord. There's just nothing funny about that at all.

That's the real tragedy. The real tragedy here is her rejection of God's forgiveness, mercy, and love in a situation like that as she holds her little child in her arms.

May Jesus' own words in response to being questioned about a mass tragedy in His time recorded for us in Luke 13 be a timely warning to us all: "Unless you repent, you too will all perish."

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Acts 17:30-31 (ESV) 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.

Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV) 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

As CNN's Wolf Blitzer said, "You gotta thank the Lord!" for His rich, undeserved grace and mercy in providing us with the free gift of salvation through His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His atoning work upon the cross on our behalf and to pay the penalty for our sins.

Folks, please remember, "Unless you repent, you too will all perish."

What are you waiting for? Be grateful that a tornado has revealed these truths to you.

Repent of your sins and place your full faith and trust in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and commit your life to Him from this day forward for "today is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Until next time, God willing, grace and peace to you and yours.

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