Storm watchers

For nearly all my life I have been a storm watcher. When I was very young my parents were storm watchers in the Texas panhandle. From that time until today the power of nature has been a fascination.

 

One never knows when or where a tornado will touch down, but the destructive and deadly nature is evident. This year, three storm chasers were killed by a tornado and others endangered in their endeavor. The question was posed, "Should we stop storm watching and chasing"?

 

I would conclude that both these activities are important to the safety of the populous at large. Without men and women watching for these outbreaks, many more would lose their lives. We should thank these individuals for their time and effort to keep us safe.

 

A key to good storm watching and chasing is to make sure you do so safely. For the most part these individuals use every safety measure and precaution available. Yet, there will be those occurrences that happen with no warning.

 

No matter how safe you are or what precautions you take, things can develop out of nowhere. One must be ever alert to the danger around them. It is not the watching or chasing that is the problem, but it is the catching that causes the destruction or death.

 

The same is true when it comes to sin. Millions and millions of people daily fall to devastation and spiritual death because of sin (Romans 3:23).

 

Truly, we all sin, but as good watchers we must be aware of the danger of Satan's snares. Peter warns of the Devil's desire to lead individuals into sin and away from God (1 Peter 5:8). Sin begins with temptation and allurements (James 1:14-16).

 

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23).

 

"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:6-8).

 

It is imperative that we are watchful and avoid falling prey to sin in our daily lives. And when we fall, God is always there to forgive us our sins. For the non- Christian this forgiveness is found in the Gospel and one's obedience to it (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

 

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:6-9).

 

The key is watching for the temptations and allurements of sin and not allowing one's self to be caught by them. If we are caught we are blessed that God has manifest His grace through His son Jesus Christ and we have an avenue to escape – the forgiveness of sin.

 

Let us be watchful for the storms nature brings and let us be more watchful for sin.

 

John E. Werhan  @ www.forthright.net