As a nation, we must give thanks, as God in His mercy has spared us again. We must be careful not to fall into the trap of taking it for granted or scoff at it, as some will.

Allow me to lay a foundation for understanding. As there is a relationship between spirit, soul and body, so there is between human behaviour and its impact in the physical world created by God and which obeys His laws for operation.

Let it not be lost on us that there is energy that is emitted from human behaviour which affects the physical Earth’s environment, positively or negatively. Evil and wickedness have a negative impact which, when it is sustained and built up, causes atmospheric and divine disquiet that often becomes judgement on a people, or ‘acts of nature’ as it referred to by many.

The Bible records in Genesis 3:18 that when original man sinned, thorns and thistles sprang up as a direct consequence. It is from this record of scripture that we first see the principle that when a people repent (change their thinking and behaviour) and turn from unrighteous, negative behaviour to wholesome, positive action, there is a positive turn of events; such as the recent miraculous and inexplicable act of a hurricane bypassing an island. This is evidence of God’s blessings (happiness), mercy (pity) and grace (undeserved favour) toward them.

As a nation, we must realise that we are overdue for natural judgement from an act of God because of our sustained evil and wickedness. The increased murder and worsening social ills from our attitudes and behaviour are causing these things to come on us. A few thousand years ago, a special nation just like ours found itself in a similar situation, and a preacher of that time explained to them that: “Your own conduct and actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!” (Jeremiah 4:18)

Our natural judgement keeps being delayed or turned away because of the constant cries for mercy of the people of God through the power of effective prayer. Prayer is part of God’s system that brings divine intervention to change the natural evil courses of man’s disobedience. This is why prayers work.

However, there comes a time when God will no longer heed the cries for mercy, but will instead allow the effect of the laws of judgement to take its natural course. Matthew, if left to its natural course, would have devastated us because, despite the many warnings over the years, we are getting worse rather than better, hence the increased intensity of the hurricane warnings. Christians again cried out to God for mercy as the economy cannot take the battering at this time and the suffering would have been too great on the poor and most vulnerable.

We prayed earnestly and specifically with these words, “Lord contain it, restrain it and decrease its effect on us. No more than a Category One to Two.” The halting, wobbling and the uncertain confused state of Hurricane Matthew could well have resulted from the period of the most intense organised time of prayer on Saturday (between 11:00 am to 7:00 pm), which slowed it up and affected its course. God, in His mercy, exceeded what we asked by shielding us from the wide bands of Matthew, which resulted in little effect on us.

For those who believe in the power of prayer, we all can say that is good and God is good! However, it can also be bad! For if unbelievers do not take heed to the warning and God’s believers get slack or irresolute in their righteous life or prayer life, the next level of the law of judgement will creep in and strike without warning and with greater devastation. The sceptics and unbelieving can speak their doubt, but thank God they are in the minority.

So I therefore call on the majority of our citizens who are God-fearing to heed this final warning, consider our ways, and deal with our negative behaviour toward each other (corruption, greed, murder, abuse in its various forms, self-centred lifestyle, and immoral acts).

I call on the Government to deal with the injustice, oppression of the poor, the inequalities, and the general indiscipline and disorder in the society. Make justice and fairness a priority focus. Regulate and facilitate so that the few cannot continue to gobble up everything to the neglect and detriment of the many. God will always judge injustice.

I call on the Church to take its responsibility and get out of the four walls, get in the communities, serve, warn, and teach the people so that the awe, goodness and love of God can be restored to the shores of our nation. We have only a narrow window in which to act. Matthew was a warning and a sign to our nation.

This is our country, so let’s not take the warning lightly. We are in a new season, poised for blessing, growth and prosperity, if we do what is right and do it now.

Let us all, for the love of God and country, act now!

Al Miller is senior pastor at Fellowship Tabernacle. Send comments to the Observer or fellowshiptab@gmail.com.