Articles
Are You in the Path of the Storm?
The powerful destructive force of Hurricane Ivan was witnessed by many in Alabama and Florida this past week. Thousands upon thousands fled coastal areas to avoid the storm's path. But a few foolhardy individuals did not. Some actually traveled great distances in order to get in Ivan's way and experience its fury firsthand. We're made to wonder about the sanity and sense of those who would make such a choice. Yet, in the spiritual realm, many make similar choices everyday.
In Proverbs 1:27-30, Wisdom warns that those who reject her have chosen a disastrous destiny indeed. They have placed themselves in the path of a terrifying storm with little hope of rescue. Wisdom says,
"When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke."
My friends, when we reject instruction, correction or rebuke that is based in the wisdom of God, we are choosing to be destroyed by the storms of life.
But it is so easy to dismiss criticism and rebuke. We rationalize our actions. We justify ourselves. We may do this whether it is that we've been told that we need to attend assemblies of the church more faithfully, or study our Bibles more frequently, or stop smoking, or stop speeding, or stop gossiping or any other of 1,000 rebukes we might need to hear. All too often we choose to stay in the path of the storm.
A day before Ivan hit, the weather was beautiful. It might have been easy for those in Ivan's path to convince themselves that no storm was coming -- that they could continue as they were, where they were. If that's what the news and media outlets had been saying, many would have stayed. It is easier and more pleasant to be told what we want to hear. But, "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools" (Ecclesiastes 7:5).
Be wise. Flee the storm. Listen carefully and humbly to rebuke. Make corrections in your life where they are needed. "Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool" (Proverbs 17:10).
