Grace and peace to you.

Today Japan is reeling from an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the island country earlier this morning.  As if that weren’t enough, the earthquake was followed by a huge tsunami that sent a wall of water smashing into its coast, creating a wave of water and mud that swept cars, boats, and buildings far inland.  As of this writing, over 200 bodies have been found, but that count is sure to rise as the waters recede.

The tsunami also created a huge ocean whirlpool just off the coast of a small Japanese province.  Videos of the whirlpool show a small boat whirling perilously near its vortex.

Official Japanese sources say that this is the seventh most powerful tsunami in the country’s history.  But for the victims of such a catastrophic event, it may as well be the worst

The comments on Yahoo’s website reflect mixed attitudes as to the cause of the event.  Many say that this is the finger of God.  Others say it is the devil.  Still others blame man’s abuse of the environment for the disaster, and say that “Mother Nature” is fighting back.  Many are angered at any notion that God may be responsible, arguing that it is cruel to suggest that God would needlessly destroy the lives of innocent children.  A small minority believes that governments of the world have harnessed the power of the elements and are waging a “weather war” against one another.

No one can say with 100% certainty why this happened.  Yet, one cannot help but notice that the Bible speaks of just such events happening before the return of Jesus Christ.  Listen to what Jesus says:

“Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places.  These are the beginning of sorrows.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another and shall hate one another”  (Matthew 24:6-7).

“Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars.”

There are wars going on all over the world at this very moment, many not even publicized.  There are numerous “proxy wars” being fought over ideological, political, or religious differences.  The United States has been at war for nine years, yet many of us, who don’t have family members or friends that are involved in the war effort, forget that there is a war going on.  And there seems to be no end in sight.

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.”

Look at the unprecedented political uprisings happening in Africa and other places.  It should be evident to any thinking person that something is very wrong.

“And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places.”

Japan’s earthquake and tsunami are just the latest in a series that have been happening all over the world for decades.  Scientists cannot explain why this is happening, though they scramble to come up with a plausible scientific explanation.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another and shall hate one another.”

Look at how people are turning on one another.  Many crimes these days are committed not by “criminals,” but by everyday folks.  There has been a huge increase in parents killing their own children and children murdering their parents.  People are distrustful of their neighbors and incidents of “feuds” between neighbors are increasing.  One need only visit the many Internet chat rooms, forums, and blogs and read the comments to understand the white-hot hatred that people have toward one another.  

Americans are divided along every conceivable issue, and many see those who don’t share their point of view as the enemy.  Everyone seems to think that the world would be a better place if it were only rid of the people they don’t like.  Tiny do they realize that someone somewhere feels exactly the same way about them.  The Bible says, “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…” (Not the black heart, or the white heart, or the gay heart, or the Republican heart, or the vegetarian heart, but THE heart.)

Notice that Jesus says that these things “must come to pass.”  It is divinely decreed that the world should pass through these difficult and troubling times.  This is because the Holy Spirit is slowly withdrawing from the world, as 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 tells us.  It is through His presence that we have any peace at all, and as He withdraws, peace shall wain more and more until it becomes a thing of the past, even as people’s obsession with it grows.  That is because we have turned our backs on the “Prince of Peace” and as a consequence He shows us His back, though he will not turn it completely.

I have more to say on this subject and may do so tomorrow or at some point.  In the meantime, I admonish everyone to earnestly consider the events in Japan and make your peace with the Lord Jesus TODAY.  Remember, He said, “These are the beginning of sorrows.”  There is more to come.  Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Stay encouraged and look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.

The Still Man

Copyright © 2012 Anthony Keeton, The Still Man ®.  All rights reserved.