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A Life Perspective…
A Warning
Newscasters were predicting a killer storm.
This was not just any storm but a power-punching, category 3 hurricane
with a 25-foot storm surge and winds in excess of 100 mph.
The killer’s name was Ike. Even
though it was a beautiful, sun-filled summer day for residents along the
Gulf
Coast
, danger was brewing on the horizon hundreds of miles away and leaving a trail
of destruction in its wake. Thankfully, seasoned meteorologists who study the
weather can now predict and warn of the gravity of such an impending disaster.
Residents were told to begin preparing for the storm arrival and to
evacuate because Ike had its radar set on the heavily populated coastal town of
Galveston
,
Texas
.
Forecasters were able to give
hour-by-hour and minute-by-minute commentary.
Some residents immediately heeded the warning, boarded up their homes and
sought refuge. Some waited until the
last minute and became ensnarled in huge traffic jams.
Some wined and dined while boasting to the media their blatant defiance. Desensitized
by previous hurricane warnings, others quietly ignored the wisdom and pleas of
authorities. During the height of
the storm’s fury, many who stayed behind pleaded in vain with emergency
personal for rescue, even though they had been repeatedly warned there would be
no rescue.
I pondered another warning issued many years ago by Jesus himself.
(Matthew 24, Luke 21:7-28)
- Many
will come in my name and deceive many.
- Men
will hear about wars and rumors of wars.
- Nations
and kingdoms will rise against each other.
- There
will be famines, earthquakes, pestilences and tribulations.
- The
love of many will grow cold.
- Lawlessness,
false prophets, persecutions will abound.
- The
Gospel will be preached in every nation.
- The
abomination of desolation will be in the holy place.
Are we heeding Jesus’ warning? There
is a world-altering event called “the second return of Jesus,” and it is
brewing on the horizon. It could
happen any day. For some it
will be a glorious home-going, and for others a catastrophic event of
unimaginable terror and regret. Jesus
has told us the warning signs and urged us to prepare our hearts.
Jesus said, “Of that day and hour no knows, not even the angels
in heaven, but my Father only.”
As the hurricane came and it was in the days of Noah, so it will
be with the coming of Jesus. Some
will not prepare and will not know until the flood comes and takes them away.
(Matthew 24: 37-39) The faithful, they will joyously meet him in the air!
(I Thessalonians 4:17)
Jesus told his disciples to learn the lesson from the fig tree. (Luke 21: 29-33)
Let us learn from the lesson of the
hurricane.
Pat Hertzler
September
14, 2008
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®
Hertzler
Farm
and Feed Inc.