“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).”
Last night I eagerly awaited a lunar eclipse which was to be visible in my community. I didn’t care (so much anyway) that it occurred at 2:41 am.
The reason I was so interested was because it was the first lunar eclipse to occur during the winter solstice in 456 years. I figured it would never happen again in my lifetime.
Unfortunately, by midnight my area had clouded over. This was rather disappointing, since most of the night a beautiful full moon hung in sky in all its glory. I went to bed.
Based on news reports these days, I don’t think I’ll have to wait long for the next natural event. A recent headline blared “2010 WORLD GONE WILD: QUAKES, FLOODS, BLIZZARDS!”
Even this morning I can read about an earthquake in Iran. I also can hear about floods and massive snowfalls in California. The Nordic country where I lived for years just set a record for December snow accumulation.
The movie industry constantly produces films on way-out disasters. However, they’re supposed to be fiction. Here’s a list of the types of disasters the cinema folks portray according to Filmsite,org:
- natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tropical storms, etc.)
- accidents (skyscraper fires, plane crashes, ocean liners capsized or struck by icebergs, viruses unleashed)
- planetary-related (asteroids or meteors off-course)
- criminally-instigated (bombs planted in planes, terrorist conspiracies)
- alien invasions and rampaging creatures (often mutant)
- nuclear-related crises
- millennial-related (the end of the world, or end of the century tales)
- about failed technology or technology-gone awry (computers running amok)
As I was flipping channels with my remote this week, I ran into one such film. The premise for this one was that the moon was supposed to crash into the earth.
Of course, the plot involved how to stop it. I skipped it; I wasn’t in the mood for a disaster.
I tell my students a lot that today’s science fiction is tomorrow’s reality. In terms of natural phenomena, this seems to be coming into fact.
The proclivity toward real life disasters today may signal something more profound than a towering inferno or an alien visitation. It could very well indicate that we are in the period when Jesus Christ returns to earth.
Hear are His own words on the matter:
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
He told them this parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near (Luke 21:25-31)’.”
As a believer, I look around me and wonder if people even care about the possibility of Jesus coming back. It seems they go on about their lives. Especially in America, people are fat and happy.
Job had the same experience. From his viewpoint, people he called the wicked had it made.
These people were prosperous. So were their kids. They lived in nice, secure homes, party-hardied, and even died in peace.
Oh, one more thing. They ignored God. In fact, they told Him,”Leave us alone (Job 21:7-15)!”
To me, this sounds a whole lot like today’s America. We are fat and sassy, heavy into pop culture and ignorant of God.
In thinking on the wicked, Job mused about them receiving the judgment from God they deserved. It seemed to him that it was a long time coming. Job even called for it (Job 21:17-21).
Job, in his suffering. seemed to think life was definitely unfair. However, I believe he knows for sure at this time what is the destiny of people who reject God. Here’s what he knows, as it is written in the Scriptures:
“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him (Hebrews 9:27,28).”
What concerns me more than anything these days is the state of my own soul. Am I ready to meet Jesus?
Some days I can’t wait to see Jesus. Others, I think I would be ashamed to encounter Him.
I’d better be ready. From the signs of the times, He could be coming back for me soon. I want to greet Him with open arms and with joy!
He wants that, too, and calls on me to be alert for Him and pray that I am able to run into His embrace. Oh boy, I just added a new item to my prayer list.
Slow New Day 