Disasters?

According to MSNBC we need to be ready for disasters. They say “disasters that once were considered exceptional now occur more frequently.” Disasters have changed?

Really? Did Katrina match 1954’s Hazel? “But Hazel, a raging freak of nature riding the highest lunar tide of the year, was just starting its rampage … on October 15, 1954. During the next 24 hours, the storm would inflict death and devastation from South Carolina to Canada.“ National Geographic News. CBS News lists even more damaging hurricanes, with Andrew leading with a $26 billion dollar price tag. And that’s just in the USA.

Doesn’t appear that Katrina will top any of those, and if we’re talking loss of life, remember Galveston in 1900.

What about earthquakes? Surely this year’s Chinese earthquake is the worst ever, right? How about the 1556 Shansi, China quake where 830,000+ lost their lives in what is estimated was an 8 plus on the Richter scale. Come forward four hundred years and we can discuss the 1920 Gansu, China quake.

Volcanoes? Are their eruptions greater? More frequent? Chat a bit about Krakatoa and the year without a summer. We haven’t had one of those since then. But it could happen again, another place, another time.

My own opinion is that the exponentially increasing communication abilities have brought disasters to us in a personal way that did not exist even 25 years ago. We heard about Hazel in the aftermath, not on the nightly news as she approached; not in text messages from friends; not in photographed cell phone reports; not in personal interviews within the hour.

That is what has changed – not the disasters, nor their numbers, not their severity, nor the reasons behind them.

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? (Luke 13:2-4 KJV)

Since there has been no ‘Jonah’ specifically prophesying ahead of these disasters that the area could repent and change the results, these then cannot be construed as punishments in the biblical sense. They truly are natural disasters.

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45 KJV)

Although we do not know when our Lord will return, we need to be prepared for His return – and any changes to our lives before then, including disasters. So Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. (Mark 13:33 KJV)

But do not live in fear that things are worse than they are. No matter who is doing the reporting.