Tornado warning

April 6, 2006

By Jackie Chrisner

Living in the Ozarks, the threat of tornadoes is a fact of life each spring. Last spring we faced back-to-back threats.

I was awakened about 1:30 a.m. one Monday by my weather radio blaring out a tornado warning. As I got out of bed, I heard the eerie sound of our neighborhood tornado siren. No actual tornado touched down, and our area escaped with a few downed trees and some wind damage.

That evening as I was driving home after working late, the local radio station was issuing more storm warnings. As I pulled into my subdivision, I saw my daughter and son-in-law’s car at our neighborhood pool. I went to tell them a huge storm was near our area. As we talked, our neighborhood tornado siren started again.

As my daughter and granddaughter began getting out of the pool, I looked around at the other people who were there. Most were talking and laughing, seemingly totally unconcerned about the siren. The young lifeguard eventually decided to close the pool.

We were again spared an actual tornado, and wound up with a few more downed trees and additional wind damage. After everything quieted and settled, I began to reflect on the day.

From a spiritual point of view, a tornado of sin moves about us. Many times the Holy Spirit warns us sharply of sin’s effect, but we often turn a deaf ear. An “innocent” flirtation turns into adultery. One little drink turns into alcoholism. One puff on a cigarette turns into a two-pack-a-day habit. One game of chance leads to a gambling addiction. Anger toward a parent turns into estrangement. Uncontrolled spending leads to financial ruin.

We think, It won’t strike me. I’ll be OK.

But the warning siren is screaming. Will we heed it and run to Christ for shelter, or will we keep to our own path, take our chances, and be destroyed?

Jackie Chrisner attends North Point Church (AG) in Springfield, Mo. (Tommy Sparger, pastor).