Good morning, Warnings have been issued for days about a major nor’easter snow storm along the east coast of the U.S. Blizzard conditions could dump more than two feet of snow in certain areas. Strong winds will reduce visibility to near zero. People have been urged to prepare in advance and once the storm hits to avoid all travel. Still, it’s certain that some won’t pay attention or take the warning seriously. Some may not have all the food in the cupboards and refrigerator that they would like for the weekend. Others may need a tow truck to pull them out of a ditch which they slid into when they couldn’t see anything but a curtain of white outside the windshield. Who’s at fault? Is it the weather service or local government? As much as those affected would like to push the responsibility off on someone else, they have no one but themselves to blame. The warnings are communicated on television and online well in advance. They are repeated multiple times with increasing urgency. The dangers of ignoring the warnings are stated. The fault doesn’t lie with the warning, but with those who don’t listen. That is especially true with the warnings God sends out. They go all the way back to the garden of Eden when He told our first parents that disobedience would bring death. Throughout history He has repeated the warning. But along with the warning, He revealed His divine grace in the promise of forgiveness and life through His Son. Tragically, the people of Israel ignored the warning. The Lord said through Isaiah, “All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good” (Is. 65:2). Jesus came into the world as Savior, yet John says, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (Jn. 1:11). People are quick to blame God and accuse Him of being callous and unloving for condemning anyone. They argue that He should simply accept people as they are and overlook sin. But then He wouldn't be the holy God. Holiness means absolute moral perfection. Anything less is sin for which justice demands punishment. God does not want a single soul to suffer hell. Jesus paid the penalty for all humankind. Those who are lost have no one but themselves to blame. Jesus mourned for Jerusalem: “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Matt. 23:37). In love God still sends out the warning. “Be reconciled to God...Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 5:20; 6:2). May we take the warning to heart, look to Jesus and His cross for rescue, and be safe from the storm. Yours in Christ, Pastor Services tomorrow are at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday school begins at 9:15 a.m. and adult Bible class at 9:30 a.m. Mr. Ted Quade will be installed into his office as CLC Christian School Instructor Supervisor in first service. He and missionary Todd Ohlmann will be leaving Tuesday for a two week visit to our fellow believers in Kenya. The public school confirmation class will meet after second service.
