Storms of Life; What do they tell us?

Storms of Life; What do they tell us?

Lately, news from the devastation in California due to rain, wind, massive flooding and landslides begin to set a precedent.  It appears that most people made it through unscathed from severe physical harm.  However,  those who did get through were hit with fear of something beyond their ability to sustain a vision of faith.

A reminder of the incident when the disciples were caught in a violent storm while crossing the lake while Jesus was asleep on a cushion.  They woke him saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”  He woke up, and rebuked the wind and the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”  The wind ceased and there was great calm.  (Mk. 4: 37 - 39).  

The movie stars of screen and success, many who lived in the vicinity of all the turmoil, could be seen struggling to survive.  Ellen DeGeneres was one drenched wearing a raincoat with the hood over her head and mentioning they all needed help.  Even the rich and famous are not extinct from the unknown of nature.

Is all that confronts us, regardless of who we are or where we live, facing the proponents of biblical prophecy?  Jesus said, “When you see the desolating abomination spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place (let the reader understand) then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, person on the housetop must not go down to get things out of his house, a person in the field must not return to get his cloak.  Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days.  Pray that your flight not be in winter or on the sabbath, for at that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be.  And if those days had not been shortened, no one would be saved.”  (Mt. 24: 15: 22).  This is the eschatological discourse found in Matthew and relates to Revelation as a warning to those the Apocalypse was written.

All of the explosive incidents confronting any of us, whether in California or all around the world, must be seen as living proof that more is ahead of us, and the only thing to sustain us is faith in God.  Does that mean these things will not occur if our faith reaches out to the Lord?  No!  See Daniel and the interpretation to King Nebuchadnezzar regarding his dreams.  As his kingdom was to be destroyed so the modern kingdoms in the 21st century will suffer the same failure.

Are these warnings like what the spirits showed Scrooge in the movie A Christmas Carol?  Or are we on a collision course with destiny because of predictions already in motion?

Ralph B. Hathaway