As you read this, the tsunami disaster is two weeks old and the roll of the dead and missing climbs day after day. The enormity of this cataclysmic event is too great for us to take in, just as it was difficult to realize the extent of the destruction caused in our state by last year’s hurricanes. In the face of the daily accounts of the devastation spread over so many nations and peoples, we feel overwhelmed and our thinking tends to be immobilized.
Our first response as believers in God has been to pray, and so our congregational and personal prayers have risen for the survivors, the missing, and the bereaved. We have been encouraged to contribute to one or more of the numerous aid agencies which will help with the provision of water, food, housing, and infrastructure, but we’ll probably join brotherhood efforts to provide help as soon as we receive information.
One of the early news items discussed by network television was the lack of warning about the oncoming tsunamis when even a few minutes advance notice could have saved countless lives. Countries surrounding the Indian ocean apparently thought that the rarity of tsunamis in their area made a warning system redundant, whereas nations around the rim of the Pacific ocean have a system which can give many hours advance notice before the waves strike.
The ultimate disaster which will hit this earth will be its final destruction when the Lord returns for judgment. But Jesus tells us that “of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” The Lord says there will be no time to make preparations when the events of that final day come upon us. Be sure of this, however, the early warning has already been given and has been repeatedly issued down the centuries—“You be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” (Matthew 5:36, 44)
The apostle Peter speaking about the coming end
says, “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with
their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the
promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues
just as it was from the beginning of creation.’ For when they maintain this, it
escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and
the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that
time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But the present heavens and earth
by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and
destruction of ungodly men.”
(2 Peter 3:3-6)
We know that if we do not die of natural causes first, we will see the coming of the Lord in judgment and the final destruction of the earth. That it can happen as suddenly as Scriptures indicate has been illustrated for us in an awe-inspiring way by the destruction caused by the tsunamis a couple of weeks ago.
The primary preparation for a tsunami is to get to higher ground as quickly as possible—climb to the upper floor of a solid building, get on a roof, climb a tree—whatever you do, get to a higher position. Spiritual preparation also requires us to seek higher ground, to climb up and away from the sin which can so easily entrap us and hinder our escape. John the Baptist, warning those who came to hear him preach said, “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:7-8).
John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, and we proclaim the same message today. In doing so we are following the words of Peter’s first gospel sermon in which he says, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).
You don’t know when your end will come, or when the world will be destroyed, but you do know enough to make immediate preparations by being baptized, if you have not already done this. Then we all know that we should be like Paul who says, “One thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:13-14).