Preparing for the worst disaster

As people strive to prepare for disasters that abound in this world, there is yet one catastrophic event that is the worst of all.

By ALEJANDRO R. SINO CRUZ JR.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. It has been of utmost importance now more than ever. With all the severe calamities and disasters that are happening around the world, authorities devise safety measures with the aim of helping people avoid, as much as possible, harm and destruction. Agencies of all sorts are trying their best to inform and prepare the general public about the imminent dangers disasters, whether natural or man-made, will bring. Citing news from various parts of the globe, we can find calamities of horrific magnitude that led to loss of lives, leaving many homeless, and destruction of properties and infrastructures.

There are reports of floods, tornadoes, typhoons, and hurricanes causing widespread devastation. Earthquakes and volcanic explosions cause enormous damage to communities. Wildfires adversely affect the lives of people living nearby. As a matter of fact, lists of catastrophes have been bringing pain, distress, and despair to the lives of multitudes of people. Making things worse, there are man-made tragedies that also plague our society nowadays. Incidents of terrorist attacks, major accidents, and widespread killings abound, not only in places prone to danger and social unrest, but also in places that were once considered peaceful and safe to live in. Deadly diseases, several of which still have no cure, are also terrifying threats to people’s lives. Epidemics break out now and then in different places.

In the face of these perilous circumstances, people are trying their best to be fully prepared, so that in the event that any of these cataclysms hits their places, they may, at the most, be saved from utter destruction.

The most dreadful disaster
As people strive to be ready against disasters that abound in this world, there is yet one catastrophic event that is the worst of all. This is what people should all the more be prepared for. The Bible mentions of a day that the Lord God had appointed to take place:

“Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained …” (Acts 17:31 New King James Version)

The day being referred to by this biblical pronouncement is none other than Judgment Day. Apostle Peter described how dreadful that day would be in II Peter 3:7, 10:

“But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store, by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (NKJV)

So, if everything will be consumed by fire-“the earth and the works that are in it” and even the “heavens … and the elements will melt with fervent heat”-this only means that this is the worst disaster which is yet to come. If people exhaust every means to prepare for calamities, then all the more they should make the most important preparation for the inevitable day of Judgment.

The signs of its coming
An essential part of disaster-preparedness programs is the forecasting and warning that concerned agencies broadcast to inform the public of imminent danger. However, they could only warn people of natural calamities, not the impending day of Judgment. But the Savior Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, during His ministry here on earth, had already warned about the coming of the day of great destruction. He mentioned the signs that people will see when the end of the age or the Day of Judgment, which is also His Second Coming, is “near” and “at the doors” (Matt. 24:3, 33 NKJV). Christ even specified the signs when He said that people “will hear of wars and rumors of wars” and “nation will rise against nation” as well as “kingdom against kingdom,” and that “there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places” (Matt. 24:6-8 NKJV).

It is a common knowledge that wars have been going on since the time of ancient civilizations. Likewise, throughout the course of history, there are many recorded cases of famines, earthquakes, pestilences or disease epidemics in various places. However, when the Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples about the events that will signal the coming of Judgment Day, He referred to “a specific time during which all of these phenomena would be in evidence at the same time. The first such time in world history occurred during the years of World War 1 (1914-1918)” (footnote, Matt. 24:6-8 Last Days Bible). Thus, the world now is in the time period “the last days” or the time when Judgment Day is near, at the doors.

There is no time to waste in preparing for the coming of Judgment Day since that day “is near-very near and coming fast!” (Zeph. 1:14 Good News Bible). On that day, the destruction will be so great that “the whole earth will be destroyed by the fire” and not even all “silver and gold” will be able to save the people from being destroyed (Zeph. 1:18 GNB). Hence, even wealth and riches cannot save the people of the world from the looming desolation.

People must prepare
People might ask, “How then can we prepare for that most dreaded day and when will it come?” Many have tried to predict when the day of Judgment will happen but to no avail. This is because “no one knows … when that day and hour will come” except the Father in heaven (Matt. 24:36 GNB). For this reason, the Savior Himself issued forewarnings, declaring what people should do. Christ exhorts all people to “always be ready” because His Second Advent will occur at a time when people are “not expecting Him” (Matt. 24:44 GNB).

If wealth and riches cannot save the people of this world from the fiery destruction, then how can they be ready for it? Apostle Peter further clarified that people should “do [their] best … to be at peace with him” (II Pet. 3:14 GNB). And those who are found to be at peace with the Lord God are the ones who “were called in one body” (Col. 3:15 NKJV).

Being called in one body
Although Judgment day is such a terrifying day to reckon with, the Bible clearly offers a solution for people to be saved. The apostles taught that people should do their best to be found at peace, that is to be called in one body. In Colossians 1:18, Apostle Paul taught that the body being referred to is the body of Christ, the Church (NKJV). He further specified the name of the Church that is the body of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation).

No wonder the Church Of Christ that emerged in the Philippines in these last days has intensified its efforts in all of its endeavors, especially in the field of propagating God’s words to as many people as possible so they may also be called to enter the Church Of Christ. The day of Judgment is very near and coming fast. There is no preventing it. So, people should waste no time in doing their best to ready themselves.

However, it is very important to note that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself also taught how to complete the preparations to ensure salvation on Judgment Day. He made certain to the members of the Church Of Christ during the first century-that also applies to the members of the Church Of Christ in these last days-who among His disciples will be saved on Judgment Day: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13 NKJV).

Therefore, those who are prepared for the worst disaster and are sure to be saved from the eternal destruction that it will bring are those who became members of the Church Of Christ who remain until the end, whether the end of the world or the end of their life, whichever will come first.

This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine, June 2016 issue.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph