"Look Up!" "Watch Out!"

Whenever a natural disaster occurs in our world, people inevitably search for answers. Some blame God while others blame man. Some turn their hearts to God while others pull away. Some look to God to save them while others look to man. Some fear God while others just fear.

Does God control the weather? Absolutely!

"'Who is this man?' they asked each other.

'Even the wind and waves obey Him!'"

Mark 4:41a (NLT)

Does God use the weather to punish people? Yes, but not always. He also uses the weather to speak. Furthermore, in the Bible, whenever God used catastrophic weather to punish a certain people because of their prolonged sins and evil hearts, He always forewarned them first to give them a chance to repent and be saved.

"Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything

until He reveals His plans to His servants the prophets."

Amos 3:7 (NLT)

And just as God forewarned people in the Old Testament of specific impeding disasters, He has also forewarned us in the New Testament that, in the end times, there will be natural disasters. Therefore, these natural disasters should not come as a surprise to us.

"There will be great earthquakes,

and there will be famines and plagues in many lands,

and there will be terrifying things

and great miraculous signs from heaven."

Luke 21:11 (NLT)

"And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars.

and here on earth the nations will be in turmoil,

perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides."

Luke 21:25 (NLT)

And when we see all these things begin to happen, God tells His people not to fear, but to look up to the sky to Him with gladness in their hearts because His glorious return is near.

"So when all these things begin to happen,

stand and look up, for your salvation is near!"

Luke 21:28 (NLT)

"Watch out!

Don't let your hearts be dulled

by carousing and drunkenness,

and by the worries of this life.

Don't let that day catch you unaware."

Luke 21:34 (NLT)

God also tells those who are lovers of themselves and this world to watch out, prepare their hearts, and not let His second coming catch them unaware. It is His will that none should perish, but all have eternal life in Christ Jesus.

The natural disasters we are experiencing on this earth have already been prophesied in Scripture, and their purpose is to serve as a sign and a warning to both the saved and unsaved, not as a punishment. Yes, people do die in these natural disasters. That is why God warned us about them. However, when these natural disasters do occur, God speaks through them, and many of the survivors, as well as those who watch, turn their hearts toward God and His Word, and thus are saved from eternal punishment. God's foremost desire is to save, not to punish.