Life's Uncertainty

As often happens in the early morning hours, my mind became active, and I began a train of thought sparked by an old movie I had watched the previous evening. It was a movie about the great earthquake in San Francisco in “nineteen aught eight” as my Granny would have said it. It gave a vivid illustration of how suddenly catastrophe can strike and how it immediately causes one to focus on the true priorities in life. I couldn’t help but think of how many had come face to face with that reality in recent days as tornadoes wreaked havoc in several states destroying homes, killing dozens and injuring many others. Other news included reports of blinding snow storms, floods and forest fires in others; and unexpected multiple killings in yet others.

Scripture is clear in declaring that we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow.

Prov. 27:1 ¶ Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Clark Gable played the charming reprobate who was living life “my way” and had no room for the Lord in his life. In the end, however, he recognized God’s hand at work in the aftermath of the disaster. I realized that this too mirrored reality. Sadly we often have to be brought to a position where we have nowhere to look but to God before we are willing to respond to Him in faith.

When confronted with the uncertainty of life, it causes one to get a clearer focus of what he values, his priorities and to think about life after death. I am convinced that time is short and that the Lord is trying to get the attention of as many people as possible and draw them into the family of faith before unleashing His wrath on planet earth. Every disaster and tragic event we hear about is an opportunity for believers to show God’s love to others, to share this gospel message, to example the peace that only He can give, and to flood the gates of heaven with prayer that people will come to know Jesus as Savior as a result.

2Pet. 3:3 ¶ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pet. 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

2Pet. 3:8 ¶ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pet. 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.