what should we make of it

3 weeks ago, i bumped into an ex-churchmate LL at the most unexpected place - the mango store at suntec on the opening day of sale (yes, i succumbed to the mango sale frenzy but no i did not queue to get in - ill save my views on the madness for another time :)) it was really nice catching up with her as i hadnt seen her since she left for london last aug. she was back for 2 wks to attend a wedding & was returning back to UK that thurs. thing is, i was never really that close to her, but somehow in the 20 or so mins that we spent talking amongst the racks/piles of jeans, clothes & women ransacking the mess, we really connected. she shared abt the drastic changes that took place in the last 6 mths of her life & i emphathised & encouraged her as best as i cld. we parted with the exchange of nos/emails & promises to catchup when she heads home next. i was thankful we met.

3 days ago, i received an email from her. she had been really close to danger when the london bombs went off. she was in fact, only 2 carriages away from where one of the explosions took place. she recounted to us her fears, anxiety - how she was trapped, how she thought she was going to die in the fire, how she was eventually led out into safety. she was thankful for God's preservation, thankful to be alive.

i was sombred by the mail - to think that she could have lost her life simply by entering a different carriage that morning. i was reminded again how temporal our lives are, how unstable this world is. as i pondered & read more abt the incident through the papers, i felt more saddened & appalled - saddened at the lives destroyed; appalled at men's wickedness, depravity. we are indeed a wretched humanity that deserves nothing short of God's wrath & judgment. the planning that went into such a deed disclose our wickedness:

an excerpt from an article in the Straits Times dated 9 July

The targets were carefully chosen. Bombs were timed to explode not only during the rush hour when trains were full, but also at precisely the point when such trains were going through the deepest tunnels under the British capital, the places where rescue would be hardest.

The timing was also clever. Two explosions in quick succession, followed by another explosion soon thereafter and then the destruction of a bus - a combination of both the highly visible and invisible atrocity, both below and above ground, and everything intended to sow panic while stretching rescue services to the maximum.

as Christians, what should we make of it? of disasters like this, like the tsunami? Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that these things are to be expected:

Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (v4-8)

In fact, for believers, we can expect more than that in time - persecution, betrayal & death.

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. (v9-10)

How should we respond? We are called to stand firm & be alert.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (v12-14)

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father... Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. (v36;42-46)

If these are indeed early signs of the end, we should be more urgent in gospel work - in preaching & making Him known to the people around. We can't promise or assure our friends that things will get better, disasters & wars will fade, cos we know they won't. But we can show them there are 2 ways to live & if they choose Jesus, they would have made a choice with wonderful consequences that would last beyond now to eternity.

there is a higher throne
than all this world has known
where faithful ones from every tongue
will one day come
before the Son we'll stand
made faultless through the Lamb
believing hearts find promised grace
salvation comes

hear heaven's voices sing
their thunderous anthem rings through
emerald courts and sapphire skies
their praises rise
all glory, wisdom, power
strength, thanks & honour are to God
our King who reigns on high forevermore

and there we'll find our home
our life before the throne
we'll honour HIm in perfect song where we belong
He'll wipe each tear-stained eye
and thirst & hunger die
the Lamb becomes our Shepherd King
we'll reign with Him

help us Lord to not rest on our laurels, self-absorbed in our little lives. help us to realise what is at stake & to build our lives around Your work, Your priorities... to be mindful of the end & to live in the light of that. may we be found faithful on the day You return!