Storm Warning

He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”

– Matthew 16:2-3

It’s considered one of the worst natural disasters in United States history, leaving up to 12,000 people dead in its wake. And if not for the repeated warnings of one brave civil servant, the toll could have been even higher.

The infamous Hurricane of 1900 struck Galveston, TX, on September 8,

with estimated wind speeds approaching 140 mph. Dr. Isaac Cline, Galveston’s weather bureau manager, knew that the tempest had crossed Cuba. Moreover, storm warnings were already issued for several Southeastern states. And while Dr. Cline lacked satellite imagery and other modern forecasting tools, he grew suspicious of the signs that he saw in the sky and the waters. A day before the hurricane’s arrival, he raised the official storm warning flags over Galveston’s Weather Bureau building. And for the next several hours, he personally warned those on the beach to seek higher ground. Dr. Cline’s last telegraphed message to reach the outside world was:

"Gulf rising rapidly; half the city now under water."

There’s no way to know how many Galveston residents survived because they heeded Dr. Cline’s warnings. But we can see in hindsight that the signs of pending disaster were there. And that’s often the case with history-changing events like hurricanes, floods, wars, and even political campaigns. But what about the warning signs for events that strike much closer to home? Is God trying to alert you to a storm on your personal horizon?

Maybe it involves your marriage, your kids, your job — or even that risky investment you’ve been considering. Whatever it is, it’s likely that his warnings aren’t a complete surprise. But the problem is that we prefer to put off the unpleasantries until the last minute or until it’s too late. And by then, the damage is done and irreparable.

Our excuses are remarkably consistent. We’re either too busy or we don’t think the issue is a big deal. We also like to play God by pretending that we can handle the situation, such as with drug use, drinking, or gambling. But your family, friends — and most importantly, God — know otherwise.

How should we respond when God sends us a warning? The best answer is the simplest one: Face up to the situation NOW and take appropriate measures while there’s still time.

The residents of Galveston learned this the hard way. After suffering damages exceeding $700 million in today’s money, they began to plan for future hurricanes by constructing a massive seawall and raising the grade of their entire island by several feet. Likewise, we should also prepare for the storms of life by looking and listening for God’s warning signs, and then responding to them. 

A little discomfort and inconvenience today can save us from a disastrous lifetime of hurt tomorrow.