Luke 21:36 “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man”.
DAILY READING – • Romans 1:1-15; 1 Samuel 8; Psalm 54
Mount St. Helens eruption was the worst volcanic disaster in U.S. history. Despite the many warning signs before the blast, many people were still caught off guard.
Historically, Mt. St. Helens has had extended periods of volcanic activity, interspersed with dormant periods that lasted for hundreds of years. After a last eruption in 1857, the volcano grew quiet.
Due to its inactivity, during the 20th century, most people lost the fear of this potentially deadly volcano and built houses around the base of the mountain.
However, on March 20, 1980, there came a first warning sign that the volcano had reawakened, when a 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck underneath the mountain. Scientists flocked to the area to examine this occurrence. Similar small eruptions continued for the next month, causing fears that made the entire area to be evacuated..
However because the expected ‘big’ eruption did not occur, after two months, people began to relax and ignore the evacuation orders.
Government officials faced complications in enforcing evacuation because geologists were uncertain of what would happen because the mountain was inherently unpredictable.
However, at 8:32 a.m. on May 18, 1980, on a clear, cloudless, sunny Sunday morning, without warning, the big eruption suddenly came and caught people off guard.
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck under Mt. St. Helens resulting in avalanche that crashed down the mountain, destroying everything in its path. No one anticipated the strength of the eruption, which spewed 540 million tons of ash into the air and killed 57 people.
The casualty rate could have been worse, but fortunately, many lives were spared because that Sunday morning, hundreds of loggers who normally worked in the area were off duty.
Just as condition of the mountain remained unpredictable until the day of the volcanic eruption, situations in the world remain precarious today.
It may be easy to blame people living around the mountain for ignoring clear warnings, but likewise spiritually, many people are in deep slumber, ignoring Biblical warnings, even as the coming of the Lord fast approaches.
The 5 foolish virgins knew the bridegroom was coming, they had every opportunity to have gotten oil, while they could, yet they squandered the time of grace.
If ever there was a time to carefully heed Biblical prophesies, and live ready, that time is now! The truth is that the world has entered the fearful end-time years that are the grand climax of human civilization.
As believers, the security of our destiny in these end-times is to stay spiritually sensitive, alert and awake. We need to get oil in our lamps while we still can and begin to fervently seek God’s face while there is still time.
Indeed our ability to escape the evil of these perilous times will be determined by our commitment to a prayerful lifestyle.
In Luke 21:36 Jesus said “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man”.
Prayer is necessary for us to spiritually monitor end-time events so as not to be caught off guard. When we fast and pray, it sharpens our spiritual sensitivity and keeps us vigilant.
As end-time signs rapidly unfold around us, we can no longer afford to be spiritually numb or act unperturbed. It is indeed time to urgently wake up from every spiritual slumber and begin to watch and pray!
“Watch,” is the translation of one of two Greek words (gregoreuo and agrupneo), which have similar meanings—to “stay awake” and to “be sleepless.”
In these last days, we must therefore be fully awake, aware, alert and intently watching in God’s Word..
To overcome the many distractions and temptations that try to hinder our prayer life we must continually engage the power in the Blood of Jesus. As we plead the Blood, the yoke of spiritual lethargy and laziness will be broken in our lives.
By taking constant cover under the Blood, we will stay revived, alert and engraced to successfully run our Heavenly race.
PRAYER: Father please enable me to stay spiritually revived and alert. Please help me to make the needed spiritual investments in fasting, fervent prayers and study of Your Word so that I can always be sensitive to the leadings of Your Spirit in Jesus Name.
QUOTE:
As a child of God, you have to recognize that you are in the middle of an ongoing battle but God has already foreordained a victorious end for you – WORDBITE 222.