However, the earth continues to revolve and last week, a powerful cyclone struck the coast of Myanmar. As the country reeled after the cyclone passed and the damage was assessed, it was devastating. When I looked at the satellite images of the lower reaches of the Irrawady delta, I thought about Acheh and true enough, the journalist mentioned the disaster as an equivalent severity as the tsunami. (Tsunami is sea water. Cyclone is rain and strong wind)
The death toll and the missing numbers rise each day as government, officials, foreign help attempt to salvage the damage.
Before we can recover from the massive loss of lives, another disaster struck. This time Szechuan. A massive earthquake big enough for the whole of China including outside China (eg Vietnam) to be able to feel the quake. As I write this blog, many are still stuck under the rubble of the collapsed buildings. Students, office workers, housewives, elderly, all who were within the buildings when the quake occur are not exempt.
More disasters happen as in the USA, 8 gigantic twisters tore through the land in the mid West. Houses are flattened, people are missing.
The book of Luke 21:8....Jesus was telling his disciples " Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming. "I am he" and "The time is near". Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolution, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away. Then he said to them:"Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events and great signs from heaven."
What about wars? Lebanon is now in civil war. Lebanon is north of Israel. The foreigners living in that land, like the Europeans, Japaneses, etc are all leaving the country hastily so that they will not be caught up in the violence.
Somalia in Africa continues to experience war. Pakistan continues to fight the insurgence of the Taleban. Afganistan struggles to set up their country as they reject the resistance of their former leaders the Talebans.
What about Singapore? It is true that we hardly experience any natural disasters. However I was sharing with a fellow sister in church that all my 40 years, I have never experienced earthquake in Singapore. Yet for the last 4 years, we frequently experience tremors from our neighbours. Is Singapore becoming vulnerable? We experience bad flooding recently despite our government's best efforts to keep Singapore flood free. Is our new construction of storm drains and other drainage methods no longer able to stand the changes in the weather?
We don't experience war visibly. Yet, we are constantly reminding ourselves of the war against terrorism. This is once again evident with the escape of Mat Salamat. Now, all over Singapore, we see pictures of him everywhere. Bus stops, toilets, hotels, shopping centers.
What we will experience that we need to be aware are the rising food prices and oil prices. You would already as a student know that the same pocket money that was given to you by your parents no longer seem to be enough. Transport through the EZ link card needs to be topped up more frequently as transport fees increases. To eat at the nearby foodcourt, means that we either have to pay a little bit more or we will have to accept a downgrading of the quality of the food we used to like if the friendly hawkers prefer to keep their prices the same.
When you read the papers, like me, you will wonder about "WHO IS TO BLAME?"
The countries all play a blame game. My teacher used to say for every finger you point at some body, 3 of your own is pointing back at you.
Awareness of the global situation is important for everybody now. No longer is it just reading the newspapers or watching Channelnewsasia or 930pm News at 5, etc. The issues and the happenings will reach our shores tomorrow or even now, it has already affected us.
What shall we do? Be prepared.
- Be prepared physically and mentally. School helps you to think. Books and newspapers help you to understand. TV and internet is a good media of communication. But watch it with discretion. There are lots of information which are false and unnecessary. Exercise because it keeps your mind sharp and alert. You don't fall sick easily.
- Be prepared financially. To want something expensive, think "Do I want it or do I need it?"
3. Be prepared spiritually. I think these troubled days, we need to search for God more.
Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3: 1=5 .....But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
When we read the above, aren't we becoming like that ourselves? Most of the time, we rationalise, since everybody is doing that, why shouldn't I? The world tells us "IT IS ALL ABOUT ME." Save yourself. Help yourself.
If we feel we are guilty of some of the above, then it is time we think how we should stop doing this (repent). Why do we bother to be good?
Because when we are bad, there is no peace in our heart. Our heart is constantly troubled, restless, unhappy, fearful. It is definitely an uncomfortable feeling. When we have a ulcer in the mouth, don't we feel uncomfortable to eat or drink? Imagine when we have no peace in our heart, it is like an unhealing ulcer in the mouth (except it is in my heart!)
We should want peace. From whom?
Jesus said in John 14: 27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Therefore. I urge you to read the papers and the Bible daily. Help one another to be prepared.
