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Themes: Mocker's Consequences B.J. What would you do if intelligent scientists came to your neighborhood and declared an emergency? Maybe you live near a high mountain and they say that a volcano was going to erupt. Or perhaps they discover that your town was above a fault, and a terrible earthquake was going to destroy it. What if they inform you that a major hurricane was going to level your area? If you were wise, you would immediately seek a place of safety. Sad to say, when many people hear a warning, instead of heeding it they mock.
Many years ago this very thing occurred in Johnstown, a beautiful little town in Pennsylvania. Johnstown lay in a valley over-shadowed by mountains. In one of the mountains a large dam controlled the waters of a stream that flowed down into the valley.
One day a group of civil engineers came to the area to inspect the dam. After a careful examination, they hurried down into the valley to tell the people that the dam was unsafe, and their lives were in danger. Instead of accepting the warning the people just laughed, and said, "You can't scare us!"
That fall the engineers returned to the dam and found it in worse condition. Once again they tried to persuade the people of their danger; but the people still would not listen. "Scare us if you can!" they mocked. The men left but then returned for one brief visit to plead with the people to flee for their lives. Their efforts were to no avail.
A few days later a young boy was horseback riding near the dam. As he heard the sounds of the dam breaking, he galloped his horse as fast as it would go down into the valley. Drawing near to the town he shouted, "Run for your lives! The dam has gone and the water is coming!" Again the people laughed, but he did not pause to listen to their laughter. The water raced behind him, and the townspeople had no refuge. People, livestock and debris were washed down the valley by the rushing torrent. More than 3,700 people lost their lives that day, because they refused to heed the warning. Instead of believing the truth, they mocked.
God has been gracious in warning us of the destruction that is coming because of our sins. He has offered us a way of safety; through faith in Christ we can be saved from the flood of eternal punishment. Remember, God will not be mocked!
"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb.2:3.
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Peter Orasuk
