November 1: NATURAL CALAMITIES AND YOU

Once again the News has been dominated by vivid pictures of natural disasters. Once again familiar themes have been raised. The people of California wonder aloud how they could have protected themselves against the ravages of the forest fires. The devastation was thorough. The citizens of Haiti are reeling from the flood damage today that left a trail of destruction and death. Remember how the Japanese voiced frustration that the best theories of “earthquake proofing” their buildings and infrastructure had not saved them from death and destruction. Live interviews with the survivors included people who said they thought it was the end of the world.
Jesus declared in Mark 13:8 that “earthquakes and famines” are the prelude to the end, not the end of the world.
This does not encourage Californians, for instance, who are being told by seismologists that a massive earthquake is coming. More people are moving away from the west coast to the east coast than ever before.
Is there a more important lesson to be learned? Can apocalyptic events in nature be a wake-up call spiritually?
Yes, and there are people who make a positive response in their spiritual lives. It is like the experience some have in reading the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Although it was not intended to scare people away from hell and into heaven, the graphic nature of the symbols used often serves that purpose. That is to say, the smell of fire and brimstone effects a spiritual awakening. Better a fear-induced conversion than none at all.
A more positive response would be to “be prepared in season and out of season”. (2 Timothy 4:2) Many are great at procrastinating. The path of least resistance is to push spiritual issues and truths aside until a crisis presents itself, then to make a response under pressure. David appeals in Psalm 95:7 is, “today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”.
You can’t avoid natural disasters, every country has them. You can avoid being unprepared to handle it spiritually.

“Sometimes, O God, when sudden and shocking events occur, we tend to
forget both our reason and our faith. Save us from saying something dumb.
Amen”