Luke21: 31 “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”
Images remain embedded in our minds that we will never be able to erase. The collapsing World Trade Center twin towers, September 11, 2001 tops the list for the generation in their forties.
For my generation it’s the Kennedy motorcade in Dallas on November 22, 1963. My parent’s generation had molded into their minds the horror of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
A recent picture painted in our minds by the words of the media is the mass murder of Jews by terrorists. The actions of the radicals in October 2023 are unfathomable in a civilized society. The decapitating of babies, and pregnant women having their fetuses cut from their bodies and fed to dogs has etched a vision in our minds that we will never unsee.
Last week, the video of the container ship ramming into a pier supporting the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Baltimore harbor has joined that list of horrible tragedies.
To witness the bridge falling into the water in a few seconds like a house of cards leaves us with a feeling of weakness and awareness of our vulnerability. To bring to a sudden stop the functioning of the life of thousands of Americans reminds us of how eager our enemies are to bring the U.S.A to our knees.
At this writing, two construction worker’s bodies have been recovered and four more are missing. Other tragedies have taken more lives for sure but to bring an entire area to a shut-down is a catastrophe for many people.
Ten ships were waiting to exit Baltimore harbor under the bridge and others are waiting to enter. Vehicular traffic will have to be rerouted for months, maybe years.
The bridge opened on March 23, 1977, and was named for poet and lawyer Francis Scott Key (1779-1843), who wrote the lyrics to our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”. It was known as the Outer Harbor Crossing until 1976, when it was renamed while the bridge was under construction. It has also been known as Key Bridge or Beltway Bridge.
The location of the bridge is believed to be less than 100 yards of where Key witnessed the bombing of Fort McHenry on Sept. 12, 1814. The bombing caused Key to write the words, “The bombs bursting in air” and initiated a perpetual celebration of the fourth of July and American freedom by fireworks displays.
The American flag was raised on Sept. 14, 1814 to celebrate the key victory over British forces, which many believe inspired the words “broad stripes and bright stars” in the national anthem.
The crumbling of the bridge on March 26th, 2024 leaves many of us with a weak feeling in our gut because we saw on our TV screens in those few seconds how quickly America can fall.
While the ship’s crashing into the bridge may or may not have been an act of terrorism, it could motivate enemies of America into a deliberate action.
Our susceptibility has been created over the years by our openness and our willingness to allow our enemies to buy our land, infiltrate our government and even indoctrinate our children.
Technology, the dependence on electricity, water and our transportation systems are an open invitation to terrorism. To return America to the Stone Age in seconds would be a crowning achievement to many worldwide.
If you think it cannot happen, watch the video of the falling Key Bridge, then, think again. A terrorist attack on the power grid or a virus introduced into the American defense system can wreak havoc for a generation.
An EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) sounds like science fiction but it is possible for the entire power grid of the nation to be wiped out in seconds.
We are warned of another great tragedy that is sweeping America and few, including many Christians, are hardly noticing. 1 Timothy 4: 1 clearly and briefly defines a catastrophe we are witnessing in today’s church.
1 Timothy 4: 1 “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
Those “seducing spirits and doctrine of devils” apparently are more interesting to many than eternal life or eternal punishment. The scriptures clearly state a condition supported by evidence throughout the scriptures.
Apparently many choose to ignore the information in the Holy Bible and the infallible proofs (science, prophesy, physical truths not known thousands of years ago by man) contained in the Bible.
Why do we humans ignore the obvious and certain, and choose to cling to the speculation and conjecture of those basing opinions on their own notions? Alexander Hamilton said “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” Why would anyone take a stand for anything less than absolute truth?
Proverbs 3: 5-7 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
I find it alarming many see themselves as experts on a multitude of subjects. By doing so we are dooming ourselves. The only truth is God’s word: all the rest is only someone’s opinion, speculation, fiction or fantasy.
Easter was March 31st this year. Many of us reflected upon the high price Jesus paid for the sins of all mankind. To tell the world about Him is a blessing and a privilege all Christians can have. If Christians do not tell the world about the saving power of our Jesus, no one will.
We must always teach that eternal salvation is attained by a faith based belief (Ephesians 2: 8) in Christ Jesus crucified (Matthew 27: 35) for the remission of sin (1 John 1: 9) and resurrected (Matthew 28: 6).