Surprises! They often come Suddenly!
“and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (Job 1:19 NKJV)
This Week
This week we woke up to find that there had been major earthquake(s) affecting both Turkey and Syria. So far 42,000 are known dead.
This week we had several mass shootings where a number of people died who were young. One of those shootings was on an East Lansing college campus.
This week we heard about a car accident that took the life of another young person. We know the family of the driver who apparently missed a stop sign and caused the accident. (No judgment, I remember missing a stop sign and blowing through an intersection but fortunately no cars were coming).
There are a lot of things that happen suddenly or quickly when they happen (or when they will happen in the future). The only way we can be prepared for these unexpected events is to make sure that we are right with God before they happen.
Death
This is an event that often catches us unawares. I have been holding Bible studies with some that are arguing with me about some of the characteristics of the God of the Bible. I have told them that I do not want to see them surprised when they cross over to the other side (that is, from time into eternity). That is why I preach the Gospel. I think many people think they are ready when they have never had the change of mind that brings them to faith in the Lord Jesus. When the Bible says, “you must be born again,” it means that a person MUST be born again. God has sent us a book that has internal proofs called fulfilled prophecies to prove that it is from God Himself. Even in our day, if we want to leave something for our children, we usually write it down (now we may video it). It is not unreasonable to assume that God providentially preserved what we have as the Bible so that we would be prepared to meet Him when we die.
The Lord’s Return
The Lord is going to return. He has told us that in a number of places. We may disagree as to the exact order of events that occur when He returns, but when the Lord makes a promise He keeps it. There are a couple of verses that speak to me when I think of the Lord’s return. They are:
“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44, NKJV)
For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3 NKJV)
Salvation
Another thing that happened suddenly for me and for many in the Bible is that point where they first trusted the Lord. When we look at the new birth, obviously many things precede the point of deliverance just as it does with a natural birth. The Lord speaks to us through circumstances, through others, through the Bible and maybe even through dreams. But there comes a point of deliverance. Paul had a point of deliverance after having his conscience bother him. The Ethiopian Eunuch and the Roman Centurion both had a point of deliverance after searching for the truth. (Acts 9 and 10). The Philippian jailor had a point of deliverance in Acts 16. Some argue that they had that point of deliverance when they were young and don’t remember it. I am glad that I can remember what it was like to be lost and then what a relief it was to realize that God promised me salvation by trusting in the promises of Scripture relating to the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord.
Let God be God
It is time for all of us to quit arguing with God so that we can trust Him. All the arguments for not trusting Him pale when we consider the consequences of rejecting the truth of the Bible.
No one wants to be surprised when they wake up on the other side
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of February 12, 2023