Oblivious
(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/
all rights reserved; not to be duplicated without permission.