The other day a friend and I were talking about storms here in Minnesota. Often times they look very black and menacing as they approach, but turn out to be just regular, garden-variety thunderstorms. Sometimes, though, they turn out to be as bad as they look and kick out tornadoes or straight-line winds that devastate the area.

As we talked, our conversation turned to hurricane Katrina and the Lord really opened my eyes to something. I apologize if this is old news or common knowledge, but it’s new to me and I want to share it. For as long as New Orleans has been a city, strong storms and hurricanes have threatened it, but they’ve always turned out to be false alarms (relatively speaking). They’ve always veered away to the east or west, sometimes at the last minute and the city has been spared. Probably many residents predicted and prepared for the worst only to feel a bit silly afterwards. I’m reminded of 2Pet. 3:4 - …..and saying “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

But then Katrina came. I expect many people felt deep inside  that, as bad as it looked and as bad as the projections of potential destruction were, it would probably just be more of the same old, same old. Unfortunately, this time they were wrong and their worst fears were realized. Massive devastation resulting in hundreds of deaths and a nightmare situation for the survivors.  By the time most realized this was THE ONE, it was too late.

Could this be a picture of where we find our world today? Over the ages, all predictions of the Lord’s 2nd Coming have turned out to be ‘false alarms’. Many are saying the same about this time in history. But Jesus IS coming one day. Why not now? Could it be that Katrina was/is a direct message to His Bride (and the world) to be ready, that this truly is THE ONE?

As I said, this may not be new, but it’s a revelation to me. I think some friends and relatives are starting to see me as Mr. Doom and Gloom. Sometimes I even wonder if I’m starting to lose it. After all, ‘all continues just as it was…’. But then I look at everything that’s going on in the world and I just can’t shake the sense of urgency I’ve got to get the word out to the saved and unsaved – DON’T WAIT, GET READY NOW!  As Katrina proves, better safe than sorry.

I would appreciate any feedback anyone would like to give me on this.

Blessings in Jesus

Brad Richard