The front page story in USA Today caught my attention: “In Chilean quake, a warning for U.S.” The title begs the question: Is Chilean quake a warning for us? I believe God is speaking through the catastrophic earth quakes in Haiti and Chile. And we should be paying attention (Matt. 11:15).
“Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also." (Heb. 12:26) …“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places; all these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matt. 24:7)…“for we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Rom. 8:22).
Jesus said natural disasters would be "but the beginnings of the birth pains" of the last days of the earth as we know it—are we now experiencing those ‘birth pains’? There are two things that occur during labor: 1) the pain becomes more intense and 2) the pains are closer together as birth nears. Is it not apparent that the entire creation, earth and inhabitants, are groaning in anticipation of the end of this age? Who of you does not know someone whose life has been severely shaken this last year?
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they did not discern the times (Lk. 12:56). The raging seas (tsunamis) and the increase of earthquakes seem like the birth pains Jesus spoke of. And the shaking up of our personal lives is a severe reminder we are God's workmanship (there’s nothing like an 8.8 to heighten our awareness of God's activity!). If there was ever a time to remain alert and listen to the Spirit, this is it.
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