Wildfire

As I write this, a large wildfire is burning in Klamath County, Oregon, United States of America, where I live. So far it has destroyed over four hundred thousand acres—an area half the size of the state of Rhode Island.

People who lived near the fire were told to be prepared to leave if it became necessary. When the order came to evacuate, the people had two choices: obey evacuation orders or stay without emergency assistance.

Most people heeded the warnings and left the area.

Some, because the fire had burned the area around them without destroying their property, thought they would be safe if they stayed.

That was true. But they soon ran low on food and water for themselves and their animals. No one was allowed into the area to help them.

They were stuck. All through history, God has given warnings to help people avoid disasters. God told Adam and Eve, the first people He created, not to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We know all too well the sadness of death caused by their disobedience. Noah tried for 120 years to warn people of the destruction that was coming on the earth. When the Lord told him to build an ark, he started building. The people laughed. After all, they reasoned, there was no water, and the boat was way too big to float. They missed the big picture —and they missed the boat.

After the Hebrew people had been slaves in Egypt for more than four hundred years, God told Moses to command Pharaoh to let the people go.

Pharaoh refused. God gave him ten opportunities to change his mind or reap the consequences. Not until it was too late did he obey.

Losing the firstborn in every family, including his own, was an awful price to pay for his stubbornness. This planet is becoming a dangerous place, but it is not our real home —heaven is. If that’s our destination, we need to start preparing for it now. God is giving us signs to show that this world is not going to last much longer.

May we all be ready for His coming is my prayer.

Marcia Mollenkopf