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Tsunami!

Sunday, December 26, 2004 was a beautiful, sunny day. At the beach the sky was blue, the sea was still, and thousands of people enjoyed the warm sand and refreshing water. Suddenly, seemingly from nowhere, a giant wall of water roared onto the land, snuffing out the lives of thousands upon thousands. As I grieved, along with so many others, over the suffering experienced by those in Indonesia, India, Thailand, and numerous other Asian and African countries, I asked the question that must have gone through most people's minds: could this horrific disaster have been avoided? Were there no warnings that could have alerted the relaxed vacationers and hard-working fishermen, prompting them to flee to safety? Those are questions that will be closely examined as countries try to guard against future tsunamis.

And yet, as I think about it further, I have to wonder about something else. Would those people, reveling in the beautiful, calm atmosphere, have heeded a warning? After all, there was no indication that danger was coming, no wild winds, shuddering rocks, or tossing ocean. How many of them would have said, "Well, I'll just wait and see. I'll run if I see danger approaching." Or, "Why should I believe them? Look how calm the sea is!" "They're just trying to scare us off from having fun." "Just one more swim—then I'll leave."

"How foolish!" we would say. However, are there other warnings that people do not heed, simply because there appears to be no immediate danger. Think how often people are horribly injured or killed in a car crash because they didn't think they needed to wear their seat belts. All of us have been guilty of ignoring a warning at one time or another, because we thought we would somehow be able to handle things on our own. Perhaps we did manage to do so, and everything came out all right. But there is one warning which none of us can afford to ignore.

You see, all of us have broken the laws of God, committing sins. We are sinners, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot, on our own, please God. Therefore, according to the Bible, we are all deserving of judgment. In the Bible, in Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord., God warns that "the wages of sin is death." Death is the punishment for sin. The warning is clear, but wonderfully so is the way of escape. The second part of that verse tells us that there is forgiveness available to us: "For the wages of sin is death, BUT the free gift of God is eternal life." Even though we deserve death, God made a way for us to receive eternal life. How?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to die in our place, to bear the punishment for our sins. He is perfect and holy, but He willingly died for us, being punished instead of us. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world"—as He had every right to do—"but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged" (John 3:17-18). When you come in repentance to God, believing that Jesus Christ took the punishment for your sins personally, God grants eternal life—once and for all! Nothing can take that salvation away from you! You are forever forgiven and cleared of all sins!

Will you believe? Will you admit your sin, believe in Jesus Christ, and be saved forever? Or will you remain on the beach, as it were, ignoring the warning? There is no way to escape the coming judgment, other than through God's Son.

It would take real faith to flee from the calm, serene ocean just because you had heard a warning that a wave was coming. It would seem quite silly, in fact. Your friends might call you afraid, or ridicule your decision. But your choice to flee would mean life to you, while lingering on the beach would mean certain death. In the same way, God desires faith of those who turn to Him, faith that takes Him at His word. If you read the Bible, you will discover literally hundreds of prophecies that were fulfilled to the very letter; do you think God's warning of judgment on those who reject His Son is any less certain?

God longs for you to receive His offer of salvation and eternal life. As 2 Peter 3:9-10 says, "The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, [i.e. suddenly] in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." The day of the Lord mentioned there is a distinct period of time that is coming, when all wickedness will be finally judged. Each person who has not believed in Christ Jesus will also face judgment individually the moment he dies—a moment which we cannot predict either. How much better to be saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and to have the certainty that we are saved forever!

You have been forewarned. What will you decide?