Each week I get email blogs from Dare2Share. I though this one would be good to pass along. Enjoy!
Earthquakes and Volcanoes and End Times...Oh My!
Tell me that you're not just a tiny bit concerned with the string of recent natural disasters that keep popping up on Earth's surface like pimples on a choc-o-holic?
To refresh your memory, we've had multiple monster earthquakes in Haiti, China, Chile, and other places, volcanoes spewing ash across the European sky, even sinkholes that are swallowing cars!
I wish I wouldn't have watched the 2012 movie, because now every time Mother Earth reshuffles the deck in real life, I get big screen Blu-ray flashbacks of L.A. folding up and collapsing like a cheap taco.
So what does it all mean? Well that, of course, depends on your perspective. From one standpoint, you could argue that natural disasters have been happening all over the world since the beginning of time - therefore we all should stop freaking out and chill out about end of days stuff.
On the other hand, as Christians we believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and since every single prophecy in Scripture has been fulfilled to the letter except the "game over" ones that point to the future, I think there is valid cause for concern if there is a connection.
Is there a connection? I'll lay out the evidence, then you can decide for yourself:
Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?"
Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, 'I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. 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 fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming (Matthew 24:3-8).
And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come (Mark 13:7-8).
When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven (Luke 21:9-11).
In my opinion, the level and frequency of natural disasters this past year sounds a lot like what Jesus is telling us in these passages. Couple that with scientific speculation about erratic plate tectonics, and we got ourselves a whole mess-o things to keep us up at night.
But remember that the point of these passages is not TO get our blood pressure up...quite the opposite actually. In the midst of Jesus' words on wars and natural disasters, don't miss His counsel:
don't panic
keep your head and don't panic
do not be frightened
The word for 'frightened' here is not the idea of being scared, rather it is a picture of deep terror and crying aloud out of panic. Sort of an "AAAAAAAAAGH!!! HEEEEEELP ME!!!"
Not only are we not to panic, but we also need to be ready for when the big stuff really does start to go down. Friends...being ready is not obsessing about what might or might not happen. Being ready is-
-making sure you are right with God by trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation
-living each day in the light of Jesus' promised return, which means loving God and people with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
-passing along the Bible's warnings about the last days and sharing the message of the gospel as the only true "end times survival strategy" and living His Cause-THE Cause-of making disciples who make disciples.
I don't know about you, but just keeping myself busy with those three things leaves zero time to hide my head under the covers and hope that happy days will come back to stay.
Or in the words of my friend Greg Stier...reach out, don't freak out!
Thank you Lord Jesus, because if it really is the end of the world as we know it, I really do feel fine!
