A Thief in the Night?

I think you would have to live on Mars to not hear about the devastating impact of hurricane Katrina. It has been called the most expensive hurricane in US history. The stories of widespread death and destruction would make enough reels to keep movie directors busy. And we in Florida thought Andrew was bad.

However, what boggles my mind is the fact that there was little or no warning, little time to prepare. I left for work that morning paying scant attention to the news. After all, it was just a tropical storm, right? But by the time I was ready to leave work that evening the clouds had darkened, rain poured from the heavens and palm trees bent almost to the ground by the fury of Katrina. I tried to make it out the door, but her ferocious, unseen hands literally pushed me back in. Fortunately, I work in a hospital that had already activated its emergency plan, and employees were accommodated for the night.

As I lay on the small hospital bed, I reflected on what the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 "... that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." Here in Florida we were unprepared, and judging from the extent of the destruction in Louisiana, New Orleans and Biloxi, the people there were unprepared as well. So it was in Noah’s day. The people made fun of Noah when he told them a flood was coming. By the time they got to the ark God had already closed the doors.

Friends, let’s prepare now to meet the Lord while there is still time. You don’t want the doors of heaven to be closed against you.