A terrible destruction wiped out the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in A.D. 79.
The explosion of Mount Vesuvius was so sudden, the residents were killed while in their daily routine: men and women were at the market, the rich were in their luxurious baths and slaves were toiling. They died amid volcanic ash and superheated gasses. Even family pets suffered the same quick and final fate. It takes little imagination to picture the panic of that terrible day.
The saddest part is that these people did not have to die. Scientists confirm what ancient Roman writers record – that weeks of “rumblings” and shakings preceded the actual explosion. Even an ominous plume of smoke was clearly visible from the mountain days before the eruption. If only they had been able to read and respond to Vesuvius’ warning!
There are similar “rumblings” in our world today. Hardly a day goes by without clear “warnings” about the immanent physical life and death as well as the spiritual life and death of countless people. But so many people choose to not heed the “rumblings” and the “warnings”. They would rather be like the countless people of Pompeii and Herculaneum who were most interested in exercising their free choice to stay put no matter what. God warns and God provides an escape to those who will heed the “rumblings” and the “warnings” that are all around us.
Thanks to Michael Bogart for some of these thoughts.
What are the “rumblings” and the “warnings” that are present in our world today?
SOMETIMES YOU MUST STAND TALL IN ORDER TO GET MOVING TO WHERE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE!
