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October 30, 2007
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
It Won't Ever Happen to Us!, by Larry Zinck
The tragedy of thousands and thousands of houses burning in California
causes us to want to reach out to the families who have lost so much so
quickly. (See the recent Heartlight article listing possible ways to
help!) I can't imagine gathering my family together to run for our
lives. One report said that a million people have had to evacuate. A
few of those families have already gone back only to find just a mound
of ashes where they once lived. Dry brush and high winds have created a
seemingly unimaginable catastrophe. Our hearts go out to those so
terribly impacted by these fires.
There is, however, some measure of warning to take from this horrible
disaster. Dan Cray wrote an article in Time Magazine on October 23rd
entitled: "Why Californians Don't Leave." He writes:
In the wake of such natural disasters we are inclined to ask: Why
do people choose to live in hazardous regions in the first place?
As University of California Riverside fire ecologist Richard
Minnich says, "Why are these people living in vegetation which at
times behaves like gasoline? They should know better. Would you
live in gasoline?"
Research indicates that if a threat hasn't happened in our own
community, we tend to think it won't ever happen to us. Massive
earthquakes literally happen every year but since they are often
spaced decades apart in any given region, the vast majority of us
disregard the threat. "People are terrified of the word nuclear,
but the people who live next to a nuclear station are perfectly
content with it. People become much less frightened when something
hasn't blown up in several years." says Psychologist Daniel
Kahneman, who has studied human judgment systems.
[Editor's Note: Please don't take this as blaming people who live in
dangerous places for their own problems. There are very few places that
don't have some kind of danger associated with living there --
tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches, floods, volcanoes, tsunamis, etc.
The point is that we all become complacent to the dangers around us
because we become accustomed to our environments and forget their
dangers.]
We all tend to believe that the disaster could never happen to us.
I find the same thing to be true here in Rio de Janeiro where I live.
Some people build houses on hillsides where, from time-to-time, rains
cause mudslides that lead to tragedy. Other poor communities spring up
beside canals and rivers ignoring the fact that when torrential summer
rains come they might lose everything. Why do they put themselves at
such risk? Lack of options and the hope that the disaster would never
happen to them.
And isn't this the same feeling that we so often have in regard to our
spiritual lives. Most of us know what could happen, but it is so easy
to put off dealing with it because it will probably not happen in the
immediate future -- not too mention the fact that we too often think it
will never happen to us.
Winds may be blowing the fires of destruction our way!
Friends of ours who come from fine Christian homes and who both deeply
love the Lord are getting a divorce. How could this happen? Where did
they go wrong? I don't know, but there is a very good chance that
somewhere along the line they stopped doing what they needed to do to
maintain a good marriage. It should be obvious to all of us that having
a good marriage requires an investment on our part. We could avoid so
much pain and heartache if we would just stop and consider how
important it is that we work at having a deeper relationship with our
spouse. Neglect fosters an impending disaster. I know brothers and
sisters in Christ who have suffered deeply due to problems with their
children. They never dreamed that they might have to deal with such
situations. Had they foreseen the danger they certainly would have
acted sooner to prevent it. Our list could expand, but you get the
point. The neglect seems minor and we believe the worst could never
happen to us.
The apostle Paul reminded us to think differently! He said, "So, if you
think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1
Corinthians 10:12 TNIV). You and I would be foolish to say that we
could never have a problem with arrogance, drinking, gambling,
materialism, lust, bitterness, worry or any other sin. The devil is
always looking for a foothold or a chink in our armor. And when these
are allowed to take hold, even just a little bit, impending disaster
lurks at the edges of our lives waiting to break loose like wildfire.
We would all be wise to do what Paul said:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one
gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who
competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get
a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will
last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running
aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I
strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have
preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the
prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
Winds may be blowing the fires of destruction our way at this very
moment. We mustn't think it can't happen to us. Let's take the
necessary measures to safeguard ourselves and those we love right away,
before we are left looking at the ashes. At the same time, let's also
be compassionate to those who have lost so much because of their own
disasters and work to reclaim them and help them rebuild their lives!
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy
faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God's love
as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to
eternal life.
Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from
the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the
clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you
before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy -- to
the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and
forevermore! Amen.
(Jude 1:20-24)
---------
(c) 2007 Larry Zinck <zinck@rionet.com.br>. Used by permission.
RELATED LINKS:
* God is Our Hope
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200707/20070715_ourhope.html
* Not a Total Loss
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200702/20070215_totalloss.html
* Upside Down Blessings
http://www.heartlight.org/two_minute/2min_112796.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200710/20071030_wonthappen.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CAPTIVATING: UNVEILING THE MYSTERY OF A WOMAN'S SOUL, by John & Stasi Eldredge
Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the
pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, passionate
lover, or capable home manager. What Wild at Heart did for men, this
book can do for women.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?251
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
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