A loud-mouthed fellow-traveler on a train was boasting of having survived two severe earthquakes in a western state. He said that in the first and most serious one, his hotel had swayed back and forth. He had been thrown violently from his bed on to a wardrobe that had fallen flat on the floor. It and the other furniture had knocked him about pretty badly. Resulting fright and excitement had brought on an acute heart attack from which he still suffered. He added that the next day the number of guests in the dining room fell from about two hundred and fifty to less than ten. At least fifteen thousand visitors had immediately fled from the city.
Some years later he said he had gone through another but much less severe earthquake. In it comparatively few had lost their lives and damage was not so widespread. Yet it, like the first, was a scary experience.
I inquired: "How would it have been with your soul if, instead of your falling on top of that wardrobe, it had fallen on you and caused your death?"
"Oh," said he, "I hope I would have been all right! I've been a good moral man all my life, and am a guardian of the poor in my home town. Besides, I try to be useful wherever I am."
I questioned him: "Did you ever read the account of the earthquake 'at Philippi? It roused the jailer out of his sleep and freed his prisoners from their bonds. The jailer was so frightened that he was about to commit suicide. In his extremity he cried out to Paul and Silas whom he had so brutally beaten earlier that night: 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'
"The answer came: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31.
"He believed in God with all his house, and they were saved."
"I do remember," said the traveler; "but that was a long time ago, wasn't it?"
"Quite true," I answered; "but note two things as regards the jailer and the earthquake. It had the effect God desired; and one earthquake suffered to arouse the man to his need of being saved. Evidently, sir, you will require more than two earthquakes to accomplish the same blessing for your soul."
The erstwhile boaster looked very serious and somewhat ill at ease as he responded: "No doubt you are right. I do get the feeling sometimes that God is speaking to me. I am on my way now to consult a heart specialist."
"Why not come to the Great Physician?" I said. "He can heal your immortal soul and ease the burden of sin from your heart. With Him as your Savior and Lord, and cleansed from all guilt by His own precious blood, you would be able to face and endure the "earthquakes" of this life and the present uncertainties of all that's to come. Will you receive Him now? Hear Him plead with you: 'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' " Matt. 11:28.
As we were now pulling into his station, our conversation was abruptly terminated. The result must be left for God's great reckoning day to disclose.
How is it with you, friend? Is your never-dying soul saved or not through believing on Him "who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification"? Are you waiting till God must send a special earthquake to make you realize your need of Him?
"God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not." Job 33:14.
"He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." Prov. 29:1.