Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Are You Ready?

"Today's Devotion" For November 16, 2005

Read: Genesis 6:9-7:24; Matthew 24:36-44

ARE YOU READY?

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mt. 24:36)

There seems to be a rapdily growing conclusion that there's going to be a world pandemic of the "bird flu" in the not too distant future. Many health experts are predicting that such a pandemic isn't a question of "if" but "when." We're told that with the regularity of air travel between nations in Europe where the avian flu has struck flocks of chickens and the United States its only a matter of time before the flu reaches our shores. We're also told that it's not just travel between Europe and the United States that's a potential hazard in this regard, but also travel between China, where people have actually contracted the disease from chickens and died, and the United States. Yesterday's local newspaper had a big article on our county's local preparedness plan. There was also an article noting the impact such a pandemic would have on the economy, with some $900 billion dollars in damage to the world economy and a the potential to cause a depression in the United States alone. One of the major points made was that it took the events in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to get the authorities thinking about such issues, because the hurricane was a terrible reminder that human beings can't control nature.

While we might read and listen to such prognostication of "gloom and doom" critically and cautiously, it's not wise to ignore the reality of the potential destruction that a pandemic can bring to human beings and cultures. So far we human beings haven't found a way to control nature. Nature itself, God's created order, has been disrupted by our sinfulness since the Garden of Eden and the Flood. St. Paul reminds us in Romans that "all creation groans" as it awaits the final judgment and salvation of God' people. Death and destruction because of Sin is an inevitable reality of life. It doesn't matter how we face death, in what form it comes, or from where it comes - we still have to face it. It's not going to go away.

Ignoring the reality and inevitability of death and destruction because of things over which we have no control isn't just dangerous from a human standpoint. It's also spiritual suicide. To ignore death is to ignore the inevitability of God's judgment because of Man's sin and unbelief. To ignore the dangers posed by the ravages of Sin in the world - to the environment, economics, cultures, human institutions - is to ignore God's promise that the end of Sin is death and the Judgment. Only God knows when that day and hour will be - no human being can predict it. Only God knows when it will be the right time for Jesus' Second Coming as promised by Jesus Himself - Who didn't even know the day and hour appointed by the Father.

Is it possible that the warnings issued about a possible pandemic and all the problems it could cause are God's way of getting our attention? All too often we ignore the signs of God's working in the world and His wrath over Sin. God's own warning to us through the Apostle Paul is that the time is short - the end of all things is at hand. How often isn't that warning ignored as people focus on their own sense of what's important as they live their lives in the world? Scripture is replete with examples of God's warnings and how people ignored them - from Adam and Eve, to the people of Noah's time, to the Children of Israel. We Christians are also all too susceptible to ignoring God's warnings as well. It's time for us to wake up and pay attention today, not tomorrow. Perhaps it's time for us to be reminded of that old tried and true saying, "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." Are you ready?

There's an old fable about three apprentice devils who were being sent to earth to test their "deviltry." They were being personally interviewed by Satan himself before they left. He wanted to make certain they each had a sound strategy for trapping humanity. The first devil said, "My strategy will be to tell them there is no God." "Everyone knows there is a God," Satan said, rejecting this strategy. Satan rejected this strategy saying, "Everyone knows there is a God." The second apprentice said, "I'm going to convince people there is no Hell." Again Satan rejected this strategy, saying, "Everyone knows there is a Hell." Getting to the third apprentice, Satan asked if he had a workable strategy. Yes, said the third apprentice devil. "I'm going to convince people that there's no hurry to believe." At last Satan smiled. "You will win many," he told this third apprentice.

God's Word and Spirit forewarn us and forearm us as to the power of Sin and the destruction it causes in our lives and our world. We see the evidence all around us - in society, in nature, in other human beings, in death. Yet we need not fear any of these things, nor should the inevitability of death be a deterrent to our living our lives in Christ fully and completely. Nothing can separate us from God's love. Not even death, because we are in Christ. Our sins are forgiven. Our hope is certain. Even though we don't know when our time will come or when the world will end, we are assured by Jesus that He "will never leave us or forsake us." He promises us that He is with us always to the very end of the world (Mt. 28:20). Holding to His promise then we face the warning signs of gloom and doom with peace, hope, and joy in our hearts, knowing that we belong to God and He holds us in the palm of His hand. We are His and we will be ready to meet Him in His time by faith in Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Are you ready?

Prayer: Father, it's true that I frequently take my spiritual life for granted. When I should be aware of the warnings about Your return, I too often ignore them, expecting that “tomorrow” will be time enough. Too often the everyday things of life take precedence over my relationship with You and my spiritual growth. Help me to be prepared every moment for Jesus' return, keeping aware of the warnings that point me to Your forgiveness and love in Him. Through the power of Your Spirit, working in the Word and Sacraments, keep me focused on Jesus and my relationship with You, my heavenly Father, as the first thing of importance in my life, so that I will be with You in heaven forever. Here me gracious Father for the sake of Jesus my Savior and Lord. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright ©2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.

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