Every day across the world there are countless flashes of lightning striking with breathtaking speed and power. Sometimes it is a single streak, and at other times a single streak breaks into several branches or forks. This is called forked, zigzag, chain or ribbon lightning.
When there is lightning, it is best to get inside a house or building, but don’t stand near a fireplace or open windows, and don’t touch plumbing fixtures, electric wiring, telephones, etc. Inside a car is one of the safest places to be. If you’re caught out in the open, lie down flat, even though it may be raining (you can dry off later). Never stand under a tree, by a telephone pole or alongside a tall building, for lightning often travels down such things and strikes whatever is beside them. If you’re swimming, get out of the water as fast as you can. Not all flashes reach the earth; some jump from cloud to cloud. But you can’t count on that.
It is the heat of these flashes that causes the air to expand violently. This process starts a great air wave that results in thunder. Lightning travels at a speed of a thousand miles a second on its way to the earth. Some lightning will reach as far as 20 miles between clouds. A stroke between a cloud and the earth may measure up to 8 miles long.
Lightning is not totally harmful. Air is 78% nitrogen, which is a necessary element for plants, trees, etc. with roots in the ground. One might ask: “How does nitrogen in the air get to the plants?” Well, the Creator provided for this when He made the world. Lightning, touching the nitrogen as it flashes through the air, changes some of it into tiny solid particles which drop to the earth and are washed into the soil by the rain. Isn’t that interesting?
In the above Bible verse we are told, “So shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” This refers to the time when the Lord Jesus comes to bring judgment on the world for its sinful ways and refusal to walk in God’s way. But before that time He will come in a happy way, as the Bible also tells us: “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in Christ [those who have known Him as their Saviour, but have died] shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain [those who love the Lord and know Him as their Saviour] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16,1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17).
Will you be included in that happy crowd?
ML-08/09/1992