See, I have told you ahead of time. – Matthew 24:25

Today’s Scripture Reading (October 8, 2014): Matthew 24

Apparently the “Big One” is coming. I have heard about the “Big One” – the earthquake to end all earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault - since my childhood. My favorite band as a teen, Klaatu, even recorded a song about the “Big One’ in the mid 70’s (California Jam.) We have been expecting the “Big One.” We have been told about the “Big One.” We have experienced other smaller ones, and some bigger ones but nothing like the really big one that we are expecting, along the same fault line. You would think that we would be ready. But apparently we are not.

A recent report outlined the expected damage that the residents of California will have to deal with when the “Big One” occurs. We know every place where we are vulnerable. We know the places where Oil and gas pipelined and water aqueducts are going to break. We know about the lingering effects, including 18 months without water (because all of the fresh water for California comes from the other side of the Fault line.) And we also know that at best California only has six months water supply. And water is going to just be the starting problem.

Experts suggest that the reluctance to prepare for the “Big One” is actually because of the smaller quakes that have occurred in the past. In 1994, the San Andreas Fault shifted with the Northbridge Quake as the observable result. The Northbridge Quake killed 57 people and caused $20 billion in damages. But life continued. And if we can survive that, we can survive anything. Except that the “Big One” will be 20 to 30 times bigger than the Northbridge Quake. We have been told, but we aren’t ready.

Jesus tells his disciples “see I have told you ahead of time.” And once again what Jesus has told his disciples is that there will come a time when prophecy will reign. But the followers of Christ are not listen to the prophecy. Christians are to turn a deaf ear to those who predict that Jesus will be here by the end of the year, or suggest that the end will occur on this date. People will say that Jesus is here, or there, but the truth is that he is not. In those times, our opponents will do whatever it takes to grab the attention of the church away from the task at hand. We will be deceived, and we will in turn continue to deceive others. But it isn’t necessary, because we have been told.

Admittedly, I find that talking about the prophecy of Bible can be fun. And when we sit with friends in the evening hours and the conversation turns to prophecy; that is okay. But don’t mislead yourself into thinking that the interpretation of prophecy is in any way our main task. Jesus repeatedly said that it wasn’t. And until he returns, which he will, the church has a job to do. Jesus told us that himself.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Matthew 25