"What?" I exclaimed! "This is Oklahoma!" But I hadn't been mistaken. Evidently last night on December 20th, 2006 at about 8:30 pm there was a 2.6 magnitude earthquake about 30 miles from where we live. Of course, it was sooooo small, that only people 10-15 miles away from the epicenter actually felt it. (Thus my apparent ignorance) but it was large enough that it brought in a flood of phone calls to the police department, as houses had rattled and the ground shook. And here I thought in Oklahoma we were immune to such events. But I guess not...at least not for long.
My day continued smoothly...but my thoughts were far away. On a book I just finished reading, and on how things can change so quickly in what seems to be a stable world.
The name of the book that had my attention, for at least one day this last week, was "Between Hell & High water - God was there!" by Kay Kuzma and Brenda Walsh. It's about survival stories and miracles from Hurricane Katrina. I remember watching a few things on the news when I was at work, and knowing that we were going to be getting some patients from Louisiana hospitals not long after the disaster, but besides that, it seems we were pretty ignorant and immune to what really happened in the aftermath of that terrible hurricane even though we were only a few hundred miles away from the disaster. (That's what we get for not having a T.V. at home, I suppose!)
However, this book shared stories of hope and faith as well as giving one an idea of what might be about to come on our whole world. Kay started off by giving some demographic info about New Orleans, and the highway system. She shared how everyone North of I-10 thought they would be safe, they had nothing to fear...then...FLASH, I-10 collapsed and was underwater! And their last hopes were sinking too. She goes on:
"The fact is, most of us think we're living north of I-10. We're safe! We're not going to get caught in the storms of life. Bad things happen to other people, but not to us. Other people suffer, other people get hurt, sick, lost and abused. Other people have to endure pain, worry, anxiety, paranoia, fear, and frustration. But not us! We know a time of trouble - such as never before - is coming. But we somehow think we are magically immune. We read stories of other people who have found themselves trapped "between hell and high water," but it's not us. We're lukewarm frankly; we have credit cards and pocket money, and although we may want lots of things, we're pretty much in need of nothing..." (See Rev 3:16,17) Scary, and yet so true!
Kay and Brenda went on to share how people have actually been predicting the "big one" in New Orleans for years.
In the Scientific American, October 2001, it was written:
"A major hurricane could swamp New Orleans under twenty feet of water, killing thousands....New Orleans is a disaster waiting to happen."
An article in the American Prospect, "Thinking Big about Hurricanes," described the aftermath of a major storm surge. This was written in May of 2005, only three months before Katrina hit.
"Soon the geographical bowl of the Crescent City would fill up with waters of the lake, leaving those unable to evacuate with little option but to cluster on rooftops - terrain they would have to share with hungry rats, fire ants, snakes, and perhaps alligators. The water itself would become a festering stew of sewage, gasoline, refinery chemicals, and debris." (And that was exactly what happened.)
They went on to share story after story of those that barely escaped with their lives, some in attics, some on their roof-tops, and some left floating on debris or clinging to trees along with rats, frogs, snakes and other creepy crawlys clinging to them. One man actually got confined in his attic with the rising water, but managed to stick a PVC pipe through the roof which he used to breath through for about 20-30 minutes as water covered his head and body. (Imagine the horror, not knowing if the water would ever go down, or if the top of his breathing pipe would also be submerged! But obviously, he survived to tell the story.) Others shared how they'd been inches from having their roofs collapse on them, or mini-tornadoes sweep them away, when they'd cried out to God to save them, and he did! One of the most precious stories was of a lady who was devastated because she had lost her Bible...she felt alone and forsake by God. Then, when digging through a box of donated items, she found a Bible with her name in it...it was actually the name of the former owner, but they had the same name. Along with it was a note of what seemed like divine encouragement. Yes, God cares even about the little details and desires of our hearts!
However, the saddest of all was the stories of those who were given the option to evacuate and to escape, but who refused to budge because they wanted to protect their possessions, their homes, or simply their pets or pot-bellied pigs! Later, when the police and rescue workers returned, they found their homes and lives had all been washed away. "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death." Prov 14:12
So many had warning, yet, they still did not heed the call to safety. Yet, are they the only ones that are guilty of this? As I read the Bible and Great Controversy, I'm reminded that even a greater disaster than Katrina is looming on our horizon. And we’ve had warning.
"We are living in the most solemn period of this world’s history. The destiny of earth’s teeming multitudes is about to be decided. Our own future well-being and also the salvation of other souls depend upon the course which we now pursue. We need to be guided by the Spirit of truth. Every follower of Christ should earnestly inquire: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" We need to humble ourselves before the Lord, with fasting and prayer, and to meditate much upon His word, especially upon the scenes of the judgment. We should now seek a deep and living experience in the things of God. We have not a moment to lose. Events of vital importance are taking place around us; we are on Satan’s enchanted ground. Sleep not, sentinels of God; the foe is lurking near, ready at any moment, should you become lax and drowsy, to spring upon you and make you his prey." GC 601
Are we ready for whatever is to come, or are we asleep, oblivious to the times around us??
"The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay and hunger - a faith that will not faint though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His victory is an evidence of the power of importunate prayer. All who will lay hold of God’s promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded. Those who are unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for his blessing, will not obtain it. When waves of despair which no language can express sweep over the suppliant, how few cling with unyielding faith to the promises of God." GC 621
Brenda and Kay go on as they portray the Hurricane tragedy that affected so many thousands: You’d have thought that once the storm hit, everyone would be seeking to help each other. And there were many that did just that. But sadly, adding to the horror of the nightmare were those that did not stay to protect, but rather to steal, plunder, kill and destroy.
Something interesting about disasters. Crisis often causes people to respond in the extreme. It brings out either the best in human nature or the worst. As Max Lucado said: "Katrina blew more than the roofs off buildings; it blew the mask off of the nature of humanity. The major problem in the world is not Mother nature, but human nature. Strip away the police barricades, blow down the fences, and the real self is revealed. We are barbaric to the core..."
When the Katrina's of life blow in, our true nature is revealed and our deepest need is unveiled: a need deeper than food, more permanent than firm levees. We need, not a new system, but a new nature. We need to be changed from the inside out.
And truly, that is the only way any of us can be saved from the Katrina’s of this world, or for the coming crisis. "Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me..." Ps 51:10
I was strengthened and encouraged as I read, and my prayer for all of us is that God will help us to be prepared spiritually for the coming crisis, and to be rooted and grounded in Him and His Word.
"None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: "Shall I obey God rather than man?" GC 593
He's still given us a few days of mercy...how are we using them?
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