In these morally dark days the Second Coming of Christ is merely an uncomfortable rumor to many. Many more have read or heard about it directly from the Bible—perhaps long ago—but only to forget, neglect or refuse to believe it.
But often the forgetters, neglecters, unbelievers and scoffers receive grim reminders from things happening all around them, from so-called, "current events."
Often the headlined report of some disaster or death comes as a voice from God to the careless, to recall the warnings of His Holy Word.
Perhaps a fitting example of this is found in the following Associated Press release of June 19, 1978.
POMONA, KAN. They were cruising on Lake Pomona in the showboat Whippoorwill, looking forward to a pork chop dinner and the performance of a 1930 musical. Suddenly a tornado struck, capsizing the boat, and pitching most of the forty-six passengers and thirteen crew members overboard.
At least nine people were killed and six were still missing and feared dead. Fourteen were injured.
To quote one survivor: "There were enough life jackets aboard but it happened so fast, there was no time. We were starting to turn back because of the weather, and it just hit, like a matter of seconds."
While our sympathies go out to the victims of this disaster, the circumstances serve to recall a most solemn warning issued to all by the Lord Jesus: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." Matt. 24:37-3937But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:37‑39).
"The Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some men count slackness; but
is long suffering to us-ward, not willing
that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance. But the day of the
Lord will come as a thief in the night."