LightGrams
October 8, 2026
Volume 30, Number 36
Residents of the Gulf coastal areas in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida were happy about the fact that no hurricane threats had arisen in the 2026 season. Earlier this week, though, Isaias was born and declared the first Atlantic hurricane of the year. As I write, it’s projected to become a Category 2 storm and residents and visitors along the coast have been ordered to evacuate.
In the Bible, Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family were ordered to evacuate the city of Sodom. The Lord was about to destroy that city because of its depravity. Here’s how some of his family responded to Lot’s urgent pleas to pack up and leave: “But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking” (Genesis 19:14). But it wasn’t a joke. By the end of the day only Lot and his two daughters survived out of all Sodom’s residents. Why did Lot escape? “… the Lord being merciful to him” (v. 16).
“Evacuation is such a bother!”, some might think. One has to pack up necessary items after securing their home and then hope to find vacancies at hotels or disaster shelters. But is it a bother, or an opportunity to save one’s life? If the worst happens (as it sometimes does), those who leave their homes will be grateful they followed the orders.
In 1980, Harry R. Truman (not the President) rejected orders to evacuate his home on Mount St. Helens, Washington. He was skeptical that the predicted earthquake would really happen. But it did happen, and all traces of Harry vanished under the ash and lava that erupted on May 18.
Have you heard that we – you, I, and all others on earth – are living under evacuation orders? As in the days when Noah was building the ark, the earth is today awaiting a day of judgment and destruction due to the sinfulness of so many. When the Roman governor Felix heard Paul reasoning “about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, [he] was afraid” (Acts 24:25). But, like so many who hear such a message, he delayed doing anything in response.
How do we evacuate the earth? By turning to Jesus for deliverance. Colossians 1:13,14 declares the benefits of such a decision: “[Christ] has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Clearly, Jesus has the power to remove us from danger to a place of safety.
The storm of God’s wrath has been predicted, and it will surely come to all who have not “evacuated” from the domain of sin. Christians, however, “wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
No one knows when the Day of Judgment will come. The time to evacuate is now.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2026, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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