IN AMERICA’S CENTRAL PLAINS , the stories of twisters—tornadoes—are commonplace fare of disaster news, and since the days of early radio have captivated the attention of an awestruck public. Even more so in our times, the television or internet news brings us clear pictures of such events. This puts us vicariously in the center of the momentum of disaster, from anticipation through aftermath of such an incredible display of the power resident in the forces of nature. The images on our screens need no augmentation by the human imagination. However, even in listening to the interviews of those impacted by such disaster, their reality is experiential and oft-times life transforming, while our video experience soon fades, except for perhaps one captivating image.
There is a familiar black and white newspaper picture from the previous century that shows a strip of tarpaper that had penetrated all the way through the trunk of an oak tree. Black flaps of the ragged paper show on each side of the brown trunk. The tree had been twisted open momentarily by the violent force of the wind and the tarpaper, come from who knows where, had penetrated between the wood fibers and all the way through the tree at that precise nano-second. There is another newspaper story of a young man in dust-bowl 1930’s Oklahoma, who, driving in his car, had been picked up by a tornado set down safe a quarter-mile away, the car still operable. A true story? The reporter telling it certainly believed it. There are a number of such accounts over the years that have been verified.
In the O.T. there is an account of the prophet Elijah, one of God’s righteous, who was taking shelter in a cave from the king and queen of Israel, fearing for his life, when the Lord told him, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the LORD is about to pass by.” (1 Kings 19:11) First a mighty wind, then an earthquake, and then a fire passed by, but the LORD was not in any of them. And then Elijah heard a whisper. It was the LORD, who asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:13)
Elijah had run away, feeling alone in his battles against Ahab and Jezebel. He responds to the LORD, “The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:14) Elijah had been overcome by fear, and, isolated and alone, ran from what he perceived as his problem. But the LORD had a plan of action that Elijah did not know about. God had already put in motion the events that would topple Ahaz and Jezebel. And, Elijah was not alone, as he thought, for the LORD said, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel.” (1 Kings 19:18)
Elijah served the living God. The call on his life demanded of him that he stand against great evil in the nation of Israel. It came in a time of spiritual storm and devastation, came at a price of great personal effort, and with great personal danger. And it had potential for dire outcomes for his people and his nation. But Elijah had faith, an inner conviction even in the midst of his fear. Proverbs tells us that, “When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.” (Prov. 10:25) Through it all, his obedience to God gave him the power to act in uncertain circumstances, as God progressively revealed to him his providential sovereign will even during the worst of circumstances. Elijah ultimately found himself always protected by God, especially so during a time of despair and doubt.
You and I face the storms of life daily. Some are minor events, easily managed with a little caution. But once in a while, a storm comes that is a life-disrupting event. It has the power to twist us out of our routines and set us down in a completely different frame of reference. If we are living in a spiritually aware state of being, we get warnings that the storms are coming. Like the people of the Midwest with their tornado sirens, we have time to seek shelter. Some of the shelters in the Midwest are public, some are private; in either case, they are established through prudence, foresight, and diligence.
Our spiritual shelter against storms in the powers and principalities (cf. Eph. 6:12) must also be established by prudence, foresight, and diligence. Scripture tells us that, “Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress.” (Prov. 14:26a)) Knowing and believing this leads us to the outcomes of applied wisdom, for the bible also tells us that, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” (Prov. 22:3) This same voice of wisdom says, “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Prov. 18:10)
When the storms out of the spiritual realm sweep suddenly into the natural in a way that affects body, soul, and spirit, we need a sure place of refuge—and sometimes we need it in a hurry. It had better be prepared and available. And our God is always available: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psa. 46:1)
Q. Is my storm-shelter prepared, stocked and ready?
Leave a Reply