The house shook...and shook...and shook...

It went on for 50 interminable seconds.  The earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. Going through our house when it had stopped shaking, we found nothing damaged, nothing fallen; nothing had even shifted its position.  (Just a small stack of disposable cups ended up on the floor.)

But how different those 50 seconds were for so many people on the coast of our country. So far the death toll is over 500, and keeps rising.  Pictures of the disaster break our heart. Coffins are filled and buried by mourning family.  Some people wait for what seems like forever for any sign of a loved one who hasn't been found...yet.  Houses are crushed, possessions smashed.
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God knows all about earthquakes.  They can be so frightening!  In Revelation, a number of earthquakes will accompany the "activities" of the last days.  Even Isaiah said:  "Suddenly, in an instant, the Lord Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise..."  (29:5-6)

No one in his right mind would actually desire to be smashed under tons of debris...right?  Well, apparently, in the last days, some people might do just that!  Revelation 6:15-17 says that kings, princes, generals, mighty, rich, free and slave:  "...hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.  They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'"  Imagine!  Knowing that they will not pass the judgement favorably, they would prefer to be crushed and obliterated rather than face the Judge.

We've wondered how many of the more-than-400 people who died on the coast were our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are with their Savior!  But how many of them, having perished, will realize that they've lost their chance to be there, too?
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In the wake of such a tragedy, we draw comfort from the psalmist's declaration:  "For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In his hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him.  The sea is his, for He made it, and his hands formed the dry land."  (Psalm 95:35)

And we have this promise from our loving Lord:  "'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed', says the Lord, who has compassion on you.'"  (Isaiah 54:10)

      LET OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN HIM NEVER BE SHAKEN, EITHER

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