(Jesus said) "For as in those
days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until
the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of
Man." Matthew 24:38-39
Oblivious.
I've never written a devotion on people being
oblivious. Even so, an article in the news suggests that this may be the
appropriate time to do so.
The story comes out of North Beaver Township in
Pennsylvania. It seems sometime after September 27th and before October 6th,
some thieves stole a corrugated steel bridge.
That's right, they stole a bridge.
Using a cutting torch, the thieves dissected and
carted away a bridge that was 50 feet long and 20 feet wide. The police think it
was the intent of the robbers to sell the bridge for the price of scrap.
Now you would think that someone, somewhere along the
way might have noticed trucks hauling away the giant chunks, the numerous parts
of that bridge.
If you think that, my friend, you would be wrong. It
appears that nobody saw nuthin.' It seems as if everyone had been oblivious as
the bridge disappeared bit by bit and piece by piece.
Impossible to believe?
Maybe, but Jesus says the same thing is going to
happen when He comes back to judge the world. In spite of all He has done, in
spite of His suffering, death and life-giving resurrection, in spite of His
multiple warnings of what will happen before that day, many people are going to
remain oblivious.
This will be a great tragedy for them.
To combat this tendency toward being oblivious, to
save sinful, unbelieving souls from hell is why Jesus encouraged His disciples
to make a witness. He entrusted to His followers the task of telling the world
that the end was coming and all negative fallout concerning that day could be
avoided if a person has been given faith in Jesus as Savior.
In short, we who know the obvious concerning the
Savior's plan of salvation need to be telling what we know to those who are
oblivious.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, in spite of all You have
done the world is still filled with folks who don't understand their time is
limited and the day of destruction and damnation is approaching. Send the Holy
Spirit upon Your disciples so we may witness effectively to those who this day
remain oblivious to the victory You have won to save them. This we ask in Your
Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries
http://www.lhm.org/
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