What if Christians warned of approaching judgment with the same fervor they warn of approaching storms?
2MefromHim Devotional
For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:27
Streaking from the dark clouds above, a lightning bolt struck the center of the empty soccer pitch with my daughter’s team playing on the next field. When the referee refused to stop the game, another off-duty ref agreed to help and we ran to the officials stand.
The officials agreed to stop the games, but their method was far too slow. Riding a golf cart from field to field of the large complex would never send the kids to safety in time. As fast as I could run, I returned to my daughter’s game and told the referee to send the kids to the cars. One after another, girls sat down to pull off shoes, socks, and shin guards in the pelting rain, lightning crackling overhead. Yelling to leave their things and run, we finally cleared the field.
Drenched and breathing hard, I ran to my own car, satisfied that everyone was safe.
“Mom, are you crazy? Did you ever think you might be killed?” My seventeen-year-old daughter’s indignant tone showed both concern and embarrassment at my rampage to clear the fields.
Never once did I feel concern for myself. All my thoughts were for others in danger from the fast-moving storm. “No.” I replied. “All I thought was that those kids might die. I’m an adult, and I know where I’m going when I die.”
People die every day without the certainty of heaven. Our world belittles Christians but fails to heed the call to salvation. I took some flak for my actions that day. It was a tournament game and college scouts were there. I know the danger of lightning. It killed my father. Likewise, the Bible warns of the danger of eternal separation from God.
I bombarded the youth soccer organizations and complex managers with letters and warnings. By the next season, state-of-the-art lightning detectors were installed and many people are safer because I didn’t care what they thought.
How many would find salvation if I proclaimed the gospel with as much fervor as I stopped those soccer games? What if Christians gave no thought to their reputation in order to warn others of the approaching storm of judgment?
I must determine to live each day in the light of the Cross. People’s lives depend on it.
© Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, October 10, 2015
About the author:
Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, released in April 2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 20 years. Her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 39 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma:
Website: www.normagail.org
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE
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Book Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173
Powerful and thought-provoking–thanks for sharing, Norma!
Thanks, Kiersti! God bless!
A great message of your courage to protect the players and an important reminder that we should be courageous and not be afraid to tell others of God’s free gift of salvation to those who will believe in Jesus. This also was a confirmation for me to reach out with the words God has given me and use my time productively. Thanks for sharing.
Norma, I remember you telling me this story. I love how you used it as an analogy of urgency for all Believers. Great job!