by Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Throughout yesterday, the media kept updating their information on a major earthquake in Nepal, Asia. Within a few hours, the death toll rose from 600 to over 1,100 people who lost their lives in the quake, and its aftershocks. I’m sure that by the time you read this, the death toll will be much greater. Relief organizations from around the world have mobilized to get aid to those in that region.
Throughout yesterday, the media kept updating their information on a major earthquake in Nepal, Asia. Within a few hours, the death toll rose from 600 to over 1,100 people who lost their lives in the quake, and its aftershocks. I’m sure that by the time you read this, the death toll will be much greater. Relief organizations from around the world have mobilized to get aid to those in that region.
Besides the initial quake, and its 23
aftershocks (many of which were in excess of 5.0 on the Richter Scale), what
the media did not cover, were the 24 OTHER earthquakes that occurred around the
globe on Saturday, April 25th. From Nepal, to the Atlantic off the coast of Portugal, to the Dominican Republic, to Oklahoma, California, and Alaska, the US Geological Survey reported four
dozen earthquakes in a single day, and that was just by noon, local time.
Jesus told us that earthquakes in diverse
places were but one of the “signs” of the Last Days. When we see these signs
and others, we are told to look up, for our salvation (Jesus) draws near. Many
people both churched and non-churched are asking what all these signs mean;
they sense that something is up, and maybe they’ve heard of Christians talking
of that blessed hope, Who keeps us through all our trials.
The environmentalists speculate about what
“Mother Earth” is trying to tell us, but Believers know what God has already
told us. Some day the Earth and its heavens will flee from the face of the Lord
and there will be no place found for them anymore (Rev 20:11). Every mountain and island will be moved
out of its place [Rev. 6:14 (Mt. Everest, and many islands were shaken yesterday!)],
and that the stars and planets will be dissolved, and the heavens will be
rolled up as a scroll. (Isaiah 34:4). This cataclysmic event(s) will change
everything as God prepares for the White Throne (Final) Judgment. (Mt. Everest and many islands were shaken yesterday!)
The beginning of sorrows started
with wars and rumors of wars, with Jesus assuring us, “…but the end is not
yet.” But make no mistake; God’s plan is unfolding every day. “Looking up” has
a two-fold purpose: First, we look up
to see Jesus coming in the clouds as we are taught in Acts 1. That He is coming
reminds us to be ready, and welcoming, anticipating the great joy that will
overwhelm us, with hope fulfilled, and faith turning to sight. Second, looking up takes our focus off
the things that are happening around us to the places we love. Look UP!... so
that we are not turning back longingly to what is left behind, as Lot’s wife did. We see Lot and his family; we see Noah and his family,
and we see the possibility facing the Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:30), “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved, and thy (whole) house.” All are types of the Rapture!
Believers will escape the Great Tribulation.
Others will go through it. But all
who endure to the end shall be saved.
“For I know the
thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts
of peace, and not
of evil, to bring you to an expected end.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11
