Greetings everyone.
You may well ask why does he need to write? Why do we need another voice amongst the clamor continuously cluttering our air? Why when it‘s all been said, already, anyways?
True! What I will have to say has already been said. True! There are many saying the same things, but there are also others saying something to the contrary. True! It’s there in God’s Word, if only we would listen.
I write these things in order to help us listen. In order to wake us up. To see more clearly what is happening. And to be prepared for the coming of the king.
There are many natural disaster type events occurring just of late you would agree. Even just as recently as Friday 11th March 2011, the largest earthquake ever in Japan’s recorded history shook millions, displaced probably hundreds of thousands, killed tens of thousands and still threatens almost an entire country. Do you find yourself asking, what is this stuff? Is it just “natural disaster”? Is it the sin of man, just to consume such source of immense power without proper regard for life and its environment or, and merely, just his ignorance and lack of foresight? Or is it God speaking to us in this day?
The recent earthquake in Christchurch spoke to me about several spiritual things.
The fact that Christchurch was shaken by two fairly major earthquakes in short succession not only meant that the first quake virtually ‘prepared the soil’ for the devastation of the second. It also reminded me of Hebrews 12 “once more will I shake the earth”. Have a look at it in context.
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.
18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[1]
I heard it said that God is shaking the world once more and is starting with His church. Is that what could possibly be happening, or is it like when the tower fell on people in Jesus’ time Luke 13:1-5? Jesus does not point to any particular reason for its occurrence but uses it as an opportunity to warn people.
An eyewitness reported that in the second quake, the first thing he saw was the steeple of the great cathedral in Christchurch come tumbling down. Could it be that God is doing just that and particularly with us, the Church in the west? Could it be that God is saying “Guys I am stirring and I am starting with you? I want you to take heed of how you are living your lives. I don’t want to see in you even a skerrick of discord, sexual immorality or fickleness. I don’t want you to get bitter and cause trouble. I don’t want you to get caught up in the pleasures of this world and turn away from me when something as simple as a good home cooked meal seems better than all the riches I have in store for you. I want you to be holy for I am holy. And because I am Holy I am awesome and I am to be feared.”
There was also a story of a woman who was trapped in the ruins of the church and after 3 days (how appropriate) was rescued. This reminded me that in the chaos you can be kept safe and sound in Jesus. He is the rock under which we can hide. Not only under, but in and on. And if we stand and build on the Rock we will stand.
These and the other events that are taking part in the world today are foretold in Matthew 24. This is what Christ was speaking of when he was teaching us about the last days. We are in the last days. Not only that but they seem to be accelerating. The labour pains are well and truly established. Jesus told us to be ready. We need to be awake and alert and ready.
My prayer is that these words help you to be just that…. awake, alert and ready.
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996 (electronic ed.) (Heb 12:14–29). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
