The hurricane season is in full swing, and everyone’s attention is focused on the approaching storms from the sea. There is much anticipation every time one of these storms comes our way. When a large storm threatens, people are told to evacuate as the hurricanes approach. Warnings sound forth through various media outlets, and sometimes the police must warn people to evacuate from the streets. Unfortunately, despite having plenty of time to get out, people often die because they did not listen and heed the warnings.

This sad reality is very much like the end that many souls will face one day. God’s judgment awaits each of us. Heed the warnings, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” (Ezekiel 18:20) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) The warnings have been sounded. God is mercifully pleading with every one of us through His Word. Those who take heed and are born of God will be saved, but those who ignore God’s warnings will be lost eternally.

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul to the men of Athens while giving the speech on Mars Hill, “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31) Paul clearly states that being unaware or lacking in knowledge was once overlooked, but God now demands that everyone repent and turn away from sin. The reason is that God will judge all men by the one He has chosen, Jesus Christ. He showed that Christ is His choice to be Judge by raising Him from the dead.

We have been told! On the Day of Judgment, no one will be able to say, “God didn’t tell me. I didn’t know what He expected of me!” Why refuse His invitation? The Lord desires for you to do what is right in His sight. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) The Day of the Lord will come. If you hear some scoffer questioning the coming of the Lord, do not forget that God does not look at time, or experience time, as we do. The Lord is not negligent. No, He is waiting to come in judgment to give everyone a chance to be saved. He is not willing that any should perish; He wants everyone to repent.

Remember the illustration we began with – of how it is during hurricane season? How many times have we thought it foolish that so many people will not evacuate when a massive storm approaches from the sea? With all the warnings, no one has any excuse for staying in their homes while not preparing for the storm. So many people foolishly refuse to take heed of the warnings given.

The clock is ticking. Will you be one that God says would not listen? Prepare your soul for eternity. Read, study, and obey God’s Word.