CHRISTIAN TRUST IN TIMES OF DANGER.
By A. Smith
A. SMITH.
(Grandville, Mich.) The great cyclones that spread devastation and ruin over large territories, afford a theme of serious contemplation to all, one from which the true Christian may draw lessons of faith and trust in God, which will enable him calmly to face dangers that render many persons frantic with fear. These fearful tornadoes and cyclones, so frequent in our time, are, in the fact of their frequency and violence, precursors of the world’s dissolution as foretold in the prophecies; and, in common with many other phenomena, are admonitions to those who willingly give attention, to prepare for that solemn day when a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth, which will wreck the world. It is important to know what the attitude of a Christian should be at the approach of such a sudden and awful danger as a cyclone or tornado. It should be settled once for all in the mind of every Christian that he belongs to God: “Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Cor. 6: 19, 20. How is it with you, brother, sister? When a storm approaches, or other imminent danger threatens, can you say, “Lord, I belong to thee. Keep thine own from danger”? Can you say, “God is my refuge and strength, my very present help in this trouble” (see Ps. 46:1); and then, in trustful calmness, await the passing of danger? Can you say, “ ‘The Lord hath His way in the whirlwind [cyclone] and in the storm,’ and therefore His way is the best for me, for I trust in Him, and He knows me”? See Nahum 1:3, 7. Timid sister, when, at the approach of a storm, you see the dark clouds like heavy billows of the sea madly rushing hither and thither in the fury of the gale, remember that there is One near you who can say to the mad elements, “Peace, be still.” If the Saviour be with you in the ship, even though He be sleeping, your vessel never can be lost in the dark waters. When the lightning flashes in the face of the storm, and the booming thunder shakes the very earth, rejoice to know that God, who thus expresses His great power and majesty, is your Father; and that He has no less power to save you than He has to work devastation in the earth as He sees necessary.