DON’T INVITE DISASTER

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:35-44.

The red lights flash, the bells clang, and the boom starts to lower. The wise man, not only obeys the law by stopping, but he also preserves himself and any others in his car from being destroyed by the passing train. We all know these warnings, anyone of which should be adequate to catch our attention and preserve our safety. Then, why is it that even with all these, plus the whistle of the train as well, do hundreds if not thousands die every year. They were warned, but they ignored the warning. In most cases they made a decision that they could beat the train across, for, after all it could be a very long train, and a long wait.

Jesus told the apostles, “If I go, I will come again.” There they were standing, mouths agape, staring up at the clouds where he had disappeared from their sight. It took two angels to break up their trance, and move them on to the task that Jesus had just assigned them. “Go ye unto all the world…” Jesus had returned to his Father, and to prepare a place for all who believe and obey that command. Jesus had not stated any date for his return. To have done so, would have seem to sanction doing nothing until one knew that the date was near. Instead he said, not even the angels know when, not even himself; only his Father. In effect he was saying to every generation that was to come, this is my command, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” Matthew 28:19-20. To this command, he adds the promise, and he keeps his promises, “and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

In other references, he gives a log list of things to expect before he comes, things which every generation since that time, have seen as reminders that he is returning, and it could possibly be at any time, for the entire period of history from his ascension back to Heaven to make the final preparations for his return, is spoken of as being “the latter days” or the “end times.” The ever increasing violence of those signs seems to indicate the nearness of the end. Read the statistics. Every record seems to be being broken. This is true of both mankind and of the created earth itself. Nevertheless life continues now as it did up until the day that Noah entered the ark and God “took them all away.” “Therefore be ye also ready” today. God was vague in details, because He wanted every generation to live in anticipation and preparedness that it would always be ready. Don’t invite disaster, make ready, “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

We have all read the signs at the rail way crossings. We have heard the bells ringing. We have seen the lights flashing. Now we see the final dropping of the boom, and hear the horn of the approaching train. Are we ready? We don’t know when our Lord is coming, but it would seem that only the event itself lies ahead!