Who Knows the Weather?

For many of us here in Douglasville, yesterday was a frustrating day. Responding to weather forcasts given Saturday that roads would be icy and dangerous by Sunday morning, we cancelled services, only to awake Sunday morning to clear conditions. Some may blame the forcasters, but forcasts are based upon probability and I expect based upon the information available to them at the time the forcasters made a very reasonable prediction. Others may say that churches acted rashly in canceling services, but I believe that to have charged ahead with service plans given the weather forcasts of icy and trechoureous roads would have been gambling with the safety of our members. Just because someone survives a round of Russian roulette with only an empty click does not mean the game is safe.

So what can we learn from this experience? I read a verse this morning from Lamentations: "Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?" (3:37) If anything, this past Sunday should teach us that God is in control. We cannot change the weather. We cannot even forsee the weather. Second, it should teach us that the future is uncertain. We have no promise of tommorrow. As quickly as the snow ended this past weekend, so may our time on earth end.

Jesus said: "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Matt 24:37-44)

May we live each day with great expectation, taking nothing for granted. And may we respond to the news of Jesus' coming as John: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev 22:20)