Famines and Earthquakes

The pictures and the reports are simply staggering.  Human suffering and devastation like we’ve not seen before.  Bodies lined up in the streets.  People screaming and moaning from the rubble of fallen buildings.  People living in make–shift tents, aimlessly wandering around looking for someone to help there, but there is no help in sight.

Totally beyond my ability to make sense out of all this, I find some understanding as I read the Bible.  Matthew 24:6-8, 14 tells us to expect such things. “When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic.  This is routine history; this is no sign of the end.  Nation will fight nation and ruler will fight ruler, over and over.  Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places.   This is nothing compared to what is coming….Staying with it (your faith) – that’s what God requires.  Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.  All during this time, the good news – the Message of the kingdom – will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country.  And then the end will come.”

I just completed a study of Daniel where there is much prophecy about the end of the world as we know it.  There will come a time of such human suffering, more than what has ever been seen or imagined.  And we’ve seen some pretty horrible suffering, as evidenced by the effects of the Haiti earthquake.  I cannot imagine things any worse, but Scripture says it is so.  “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until now. But at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered.” (Daniel 12:1)

What do we do during times like this?  Stay with our faith, reach out and help the hurting as best we can, showing them the love of God.  The Haitians need to know God has not forgotten them and that the world feels their pain. This can be a time of great witnesses to them, a time when God is spoken about all over the world.  It might be a time of a great awakening to spiritual things for many people, and not just the Haitians.  For those who do not know Jesus, perhaps this will be a time of turning to Him. That is our hope and ultimate prayer for all people.

And what about you?  Do you know Jesus?  There will come a time that is much worse for humanity than the current earthquake. It will be on a much larger scale and effect even  more people. But Scripture says that those whose name is written in the book will be delivered.  They will be spared the worst of it. I pray your name is there, my friend.  Is it?