Another thought on the end of the world.

I've recently been watching more of the news. With Katrina still on everyone's mind, Rita is bearing down on the south. The water and winds are said it be very rough. As of yesterday, the projected damaging aspects were thought to make it as far into Texas as Dallas. The rainfall and flooding aspects were said to make it as far north as Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, even Tulsa... where I live.

As of today, they have changed the projected path of the storm, and have said it has "weakened considerably in the past 24-hours, but is still dangerous."

Is this going to be the onslaught that New Orleans was? I doubt it. I'm certain the media will play it as much as it can, of course. However, I don't forsee it becoming such a major issue. For one, New Orleans was a bowl, and there were many geographical attributes to the area that added to the flooding. I don't think much of Texas is going to have to worry about this.

Do I think there will be loss of life in the thousands? I doubt it. In the hundreds? In the tens? To be honest, I have no idea.

Some have even speculated that these catastrophic events are signaling the end of the world. Why? Because it effects you, for a change? Keep in mind that the gulf coast, in the pig picture of things, is a relatively tiny strip of land.

Is it the end of the world? Only God knows that. This much I do know, and I've said it before: The end of the world comes every day for thousands of people through war, famine, murder, illness and accidents. Are you taking time to establish relationships with people to reach them in their hour of need?

What if I am wrong? What?? Jerry be wrong? I am. Often. And what if I am here, too? What if Rita builds up steam again and takes out your home town? Do you know, should your little world end, and your slice of existence be brought before review of God, the eternal... how would it be rated?

Ratings

"I was a good person" : Great. So were the Pharasees. The movies portray them as crooked, evil, spiteful and hateful men. But if you know the history, they were insightful men who spent MUCH of their day reviewing the old law, and searching for evidence of the Messiah. Christ noted that they give their tithes, and pay their dues. They were, socially, wonderful men. Yet he called them children of the devil. Why?

"I go to church." : Great. So did the saducees. They didn't beleive in the Messiah, but they went to the synagogues to worship God. Yet Jesus called them a brood of vipers. Why?

"I know there's a God." : Great. So do the demons. They have seen more of God than you have, thus they know he is really real, but they will not be allowed to inherit the Kingdom. Why?

"I'm a Christian." (as said synonymous with I'm a member of the NRA, or as evidenced by carrying some sort of membership card) Great. Christ himself said "Many will come to me in the last day and say 'Lord! Lord!'"

Here... I'll paraphrase:

'Lord! Lord.... it's me.. BOB!'

'Who?' Christ replies.

'Bob! You know... I go to Fifth-avenue church. I've cast out demons, in your name. I've done signs and wonders and miracles.' (might I go so far as to add... I'm a citizen of the USA, and an Okie.. or Texan... or... you get the idea.)

'But I don't know you.' Christ says solemnly. 'Go away from me...' The word 'know' means any sort of face-to-face relationship with someone, such as a close friend, not a casual knowledge of facts about someone.

In short... there will be MANY THOUSANDS (see 'many' in greek) of 'Christians' in hell. Why??? Aren't they professing that Christ is the Risen one??? Didn't they do miracles? When was the last time you cast out demons or did a miracle? Yet they were cast out of heaven. Why???

Below is the full text of Matthew 7:21-25.

21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?' 23 Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!' 24 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"

You see, it's not about what we think, feel, whose membership we carry or what our parents taught us. It is not about our acts of service, the miracles we've seen, the committees we've served on or groups that claim us as "good people, too." It has nothing to do about what we wear, what gadgets we own, houses we live in or how much money is in the bank. It's about a one-on-one relationship... communication... with God, the eternal and infinite.

You may say "Jerry, is this one of those "ya gotta get saaaaavvveeedd!" posts?

Yes. It is. Sometimes I do those too. But this isn't directed at just everyone. This is directed at those who think everything's fine. If it is, great. But take a moment to evaluate yourself.

If your slice of reality were to end this weekend (in the storm or not), have you started that relationship? If the end of the world for you were today would you know that God would recognize you, not based on his all-knowing spirit, but based on the fact that you spend time together in honest communication? It's never too late to start.