When I first heard the news about the Tsunami my heart started beating a little faster and my mind immediately started listing the people we know in that area of the world. The list isn't long, but it took a few days before we knew they were all safe, though a couple of them were a little too close for comfort to the danger zone. We are thankful that our friends escaped, but the horror of the worst tragedy to hit our globe is still sinking in, as we watch television and hear the stories of both despair and hope.
I think the image that struck me most, of all those I've seen so far, was the home video footage of little children playing on the beach. As the wave looms large in the distance the children suddenly stand still and watch it approach. The news commentator's last remark is that he had no idea if the children, or the person taking the video, survived. That clip is a dramatic proof of one of the reasons why the death toll was so huge. They had no idea what was coming.
When I first heard the news about the Tsunami my heart started beating a little faster and my mind immediately started listing the people we know in that area of the world. The list isn't long, but it took a few days before we knew they were all safe, though a couple of them were a little too close for comfort to the danger zone. We are thankful that our friends escaped, but the horror of the worst tragedy to hit our globe is still sinking in, as we watch television and hear the stories of both despair and hope.
I think the image that struck me most, of all those I've seen so far, was the home video footage of little children playing on the beach. As the wave looms large in the distance the children suddenly stand still and watch it approach. The news commentator's last remark is that he had no idea if the children, or the person taking the video, survived. That clip is a dramatic proof of one of the reasons why the death toll was so huge. They had no idea what was coming. They had no warning. They did not know disaster was rushing toward them until it was on top of them and it was too late. In a matter of moments, the lives if millions were changed forever. No doubt many scientists around the world will be working hard in the next months to devise a system that will ensure it never happens that way again.
It is impossible to escape the fact that we are all heading toward a time that will change our lives forever. We will all die some day and we do not know when that day will be. Over and over again the prophets and Jesus Himself warned of a time when it will be too late. They warned us to respond to the call of God now, because a day is coming when it will be impossible to do so. The Apostle Paul warned ? "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation" (2Corinthians 6:2b) and he begged those who were gathered there ? "We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2Co. 5:20-21).
We know it's coming. There is a way to be reconciled before it's too late. Become the "righteousness of God" by accepting the sacrifice of the life of the sinless one, Jesus Christ. We have been warned.
Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada. Her devotional book, The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others. To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com
Copyright Marcia Lee Laycock, 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005