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Wednesday, January 4, 2006

"Are You Ready?"

"Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish" (Luke 13:4,5).

This morning as I loaded my coal stove I did so with a renewed sense of appreciation for coal miners. Here in the United States many of us have been following the mining accident in West Virginia. Since early Monday morning 13 miners were trapped deep inside a coal mine.  This morning we received the tragic news that all but one of them died. Today I am sure many of us are praying for the families, as we have been for the past couple of days.

This situation underscores the reality I wrote about yesterday concerning the everyday securities we seek in this life. They are, apart from the Solid Rock of Christ, like sinking sand. Although involved in a very dangerous occupation these miners began a New Year Sunday morning having no idea how soon their lives or the lives of their families would change.

Our daily text has always intrigued me.  Jesus is using a contemporary news event to illustrate a vital spiritual truth.  There had been an accident regarding a tower in Siloam and eighteen had died.  Obviously then, as now, such events are on people's minds and talked about for quite some time.

Jesus does not address the question that's foremost when such things happen.  We want to know "Why did this happen?" or as believers more specifically, "Why did God allow this to happen?" Jesus does not provide an answer to these "why" questions, but He clearly rebukes the simpleton mentality of those who have the view "They must have been greater sinners." 

Instead He deals with the bigger and more important issue. Hear the words of our ever truthful Lord. "But unless you repent, you too will all perish."  Have you repented of your sins? Are you ready to meet your Maker right now? 

You may express this in your own words or here's a common prayer that expresses repentance to God and faith in His provision of salvation. I urge you to pray this prayer from your heart today.

"Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and desire to turn to You in repentance.  Forgive me of my sins. I believe that You came to this earth and died on the cross as a substitute for me.  I place my faith in You and what You have done for me.  I receive You into my life and choose this day to follow You.  Thank You for hearing my prayer." 

Expressing ourselves to God in this way is how we begin our new lives as Christians. I know most readers have already done so and for you this prayer will be an affirmation of your present faith. But I earnestly pray that anyone reading this who has never prayed the prayer of faith will do so today.  This will be the beginning of your life with Christ and your preparation to meet your Maker.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's Prayer:  Jesus, I join with so many in praying for the families and friends of the miners who lost their lives.  As You share in their grief may they find divine peace through the God of all Comfort.  May You grant strength, healing and full recovery to the one surviving miner.  Through this tragic story remind me of the importance of my Christian witness to those I spend time with everyday.   Even when darkness surrounds me help me to be the true source of light that points others to life everlasting.

Note from Brooksyne:  I recall another coal mining accident took place here in Pennsylvania in 2002 and the miners were trapped for days.  As you may remember all of these miners were rescued. We were praying at that time that at least one of the miners would be a Christian helping others to place their trust in God before it was eternally too late.  I found myself praying the same thing again.  How vital our consistent Christian witness is everyday.  We never know when God might call upon us in calamitous circumstances to make the vital difference in one's eternal destiny.

PS: In using the mining tragedy as an illustration I am certainly aware that many grieve and we pray for God's peace and comfort to be upon these folks. I especially can only imagine the pain of loss after having had the hope of their rescue for several hours last night.


 

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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