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The Storm Comes from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

We live near the coast of South Carolina, and every year we have to prepare for hurricane season. When a major storm comes through, it can be devastating. The electricity may be out for a week, and the roads are often closed because of flooding or blocked with downed trees and power lines.

We make certain we have a good supply of batteries, fuel for the generator, propane for the grill, and plenty of food on hand. For even if you were able to get to a grocery store, the shelves would be empty. See, when the storm comes, it's too late to get ready.

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus went up on a mountainside, sat down, and taught His disciples about murder, adultery, divorce, worry, anxiety, taking oaths, retaliation, love, giving, prayer, fasting, handling money, judging others, and much more. There were a lot of things that His disciples should and should not do, and Jesus talked a lot about doing good works. For example:

 (Matthew 5:16 NASB)  "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

(Matthew 7:12 NASB)  "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

This is a call to action, "treat people like you would like to be treated." Jesus gave many commands like that, conveying that your role of power may be reversed in the days to come.

(Luke 6:37–38 NKJV)  "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

The same amount of judgment, condemnation, or love and mercy that you show others will be multiplied and given back to you in the days to come. Our tomorrow can be chilling or beautiful, depending on our actions today. So love others, and treat them like you would like to be treated.

(James 2:13 NKJV)  "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy."

"Oh, but I'm saved, and that doesn't apply to me." Since when do the commandments of Jesus Christ not apply to Christians? Hogwash! At the end of His long teaching on discipleship that day, Jesus wrapped up with these thoughts, and He was speaking to His disciples:

(Matthew 7:13–14 NASB)  "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

The disciples could choose their path, and the big heavy traveled one went to the wrong place. The small gate is Jesus Christ, who is the only door (John 10:9). We are saved through faith in Christ alone, yet faith without accompanying good works is dead (James 2:26). True saving faith loves, obeys, endures, perseveres, not perfectly but steadily. Jesus continued on:

(Matthew 7:19 NKJV)  "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

The tree He is speaking of is a person, and their actions determine the fruit they bear. The trees that didn't produce good fruit are going to be burned in the fire. It's not enough to not be bad. You need to be actively good. Jesus continued:

(Matthew 7:21–23 NASB)  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."

Again, we see those who do the will of our Heavenly Father entering the kingdom of heaven. Those who don't bother to simply won't be there. Jesus completes His sermon with a story about two men who built houses:

(Matthew 7:24–25 NKJV)  "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."

(Matthew 7:26–27 NKJV)  "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

When the storm came, it was too late for them to get ready. Those are the words that came to me while praying about this message: "When the storm comes, it's too late to get ready." I am not sure what is coming or when, but this is a call to action before it arrives. Hearing the words of Jesus Christ, and doing them, will prepare you for tomorrow.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to make You happy and do Your will while on Earth. I submit my life to You and ask that You give me a clear vision of what I should focus on. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!