It was a typical morning. There was nothing to indicate something bad was about to happen. Everyone went about their routine of getting dressed for the day and getting children ready for a short trip.
By 10:30 that morning, the car was totaled, the mother was lying on a cold x-ray table, and the father was pacing in the emergency room while the two children were being checked out by doctors. Dad’s face would require stitches; the mother would be in a back brace for several weeks because of a broken back, but the children would have no long-term effects.
Through no fault of theirs, a careless driver had changed their lives. There were injuries that would never completely heal and memories that could not be erased.
On another typical morning, this same mom and dad would spend a day at work, only to return in the late afternoon to find their home in flames. They would lose everything except the clothes they were wearing.
It would take months to replace their home, and their lives would once again be changed. Once again there would be a lesson in a tragedy. They would discover that “things” are not as important as the love of family and friends.
These two stories are real. They did not happen to some imaginary family. They happened to my family, and not any member of my family had any idea what the day would bring.
Tragedies are rarely preceded by warnings. There were no warning signs for us. Had we known what was about to happen, we would have prepared for both the accident and the fire in whatever way we could.
Some people don’t prepare even when there are warnings. Just in the last few days, we have read and heard about the many people (over 1,000) that had to be rescued from the flooding caused by hurricane Florence. The people had plenty of warning, but they didn’t heed those warnings. They traveled through flooded streets, stayed in unsafe areas, and ventured into unsafe environments in spite of the danger.
Think of all the warnings found in scripture. Pharaoh had many warnings from Moses and Aaron. They proved themselves with miracles, but even miracles from God would not persuade the king to let the people go.
Time and time again, the Children of Israel were warned to obey God or suffer the consequences. Over and over again, they turned their backs on God and worshiped idols.
Jeremiah, the prophet, wept over the Children of Israel and prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem. God gave them every chance to repent, but they would not heed the warning.
Jesus warned the disciples that they would all turn against Him. He tried to prepare them, but they were convinced they would stand by Him. When the time came for Jesus’ arrest, they all left Him.
Paul warned the church at Ephesus in Acts 20 that “grievous wolves” would come among them, speak perverse things, and try to draw them away from the gospel (Acts 20:29-30).
John warned the seven churches of Asia that in spite of the good He found in each one, there were problems. These problems were serious enough that they could be lost (Revelation 2 and 3).
We find warnings throughout the Bible. Through the warnings in the New Testament, we can learn what God wants us to do.
I think the book of James sums it up in this statement. He said, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to e a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
What will today bring? Only our Heavenly Father knows what each day will bring to us. Whatever today brings, let us pray that our souls are prepared for what is to come.
Sandra Oliver