WARNING!

Warning! Attention! Look out! Alert! Alarm! Danger!

If we see or hear any of these words, we understand that there’s something we need to pay attention to, use caution, explore carefully. A warning sign might tell us that the road ahead is flooded, the bridge is out, or the cliff might crumble beneath our feet.

Many of us spend a lot of time listening to weather reports. If we live in cold country, we want to be warned of a coming snowstorm—how bad will it be? How much wind? How much snow accumulation? What will the wind chill temperature be?

Florida and the Gulf Coast pay special attention to hurricane reports in the fall. Their paths can be erratic and difficult to predict, but with proper warnings, people can evacuate an area before the brunt of the storm hits.

Living in “tornado alley” here in the U.S. can be especially dangerous. And tornados are notoriously unpredictable. Still, with advanced weather equipment and warning sirens, many lives are saved each year by people heeding the alert signals and finding shelter.

God says in [67:17] Have you guaranteed that the One in heaven will not send upon you a violent storm?

Will you then appreciate the value of My warning?

Can we appreciate the incredible mercy of God’s warnings? We have to. A tornado warning gives people a few precious minutes to get to the storm shelter and thus possibly save their lives. The danger comes and goes, and then life goes on. God’s warning is for our soul, and it’s for our eternal life. If you fail to heed a tornado warning, you may still be fine. The storm may pass by without touching down; it may hit close but spare you; and either way, it will soon be gone. Even a massive and powerful hurricane will blow through in a few hours, and if people took heed of the warnings, they either evacuated or battened down the hatches and survived.

If we fail to heed God’s warnings, there is absolutely no escape.

[42:31] You can never escape, and you have none beside GOD as a Lord and Master.

[9:3] …But if you turn away, then know that you can never escape from GOD. Promise those who disbelieve a painful retribution.

[75:10-12] The human being will say on that day, "Where is the escape?" Absolutely, there is no escape. To your Lord, on that day, is the final destiny.

Even the jinns know there is no escape. [72:12] "'We knew full well that we can never run away from GOD on earth; we can never run away and escape.”

So what are God’s warnings? Is it a single alert, one solitary “Look out!”? No. God, in His incredible mercy, keeps warning and reminding and advising us. He does it on an individual level. Solomon received a warning about his preoccupation with his horses (38:31-35). He recognized the danger and repented and reformed. The “three who stayed behind” were warned about their behavior and they valued the warning.

[9:118-9] Also (redeemed were) the three who stayed behind. The spacious earth became so straitened for them, that they almost gave up all hope for themselves. Finally, they realized that there was no escape from GOD, except to Him. He then redeemed them that they may repent. GOD is the Redeemer, Most Merciful. O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD, and be among the truthful.

God also issues warnings on a larger scale. The communities of ‘Ad (11:57), Thamud (7:79), Midyan (26:177-184), and many others received messengers who delivered God’s warnings.

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