It was a Thursday morning in February this past winter and the little town of San Jacinto in Southern California was just getting into its daily routine. In some homes the families were seated at the breakfast table. In other homes children were getting ready for school and their dads were about ready to leave for work. Some who didn’t have to get up early were still in bed or having their morning shower.
The rains were continuing to fall as they had for over a week. There had been reports of flooding in many districts, but the townspeople were not worried. The San Jacinto River, which ran past the edge of town, had always handled these heavy rains and was well-diked.
But suddenly sirens wailed and police cars raced through the town with bullhorns blaring: “Escape for your life! A flood is coming! You have three minutes to get out! Don’t try to save anything!”
The town’s 8,500 people were in immediate danger. They quickly responded, and with water hubcap deep and rapidly rising, made their escape. On reaching high ground they were told that the river, whose course had been changed one hundred years ago, had come back to its old riverbed and was coming directly into the town. Three days later, when the Corps of Engineers had channeled the river back to its other course, these folks were able to return to their mud-filled and water-soaked homes. Some of the houses had been twisted out of shape and off their foundations with great loss and damage to their belongings. It was a sorrowful day for San Jacinto.
There is no report that any who heard the warnings failed to obey them, or foolishly stayed behind to gather up their belongings. No, their immediate concern was to save their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
There are many today who are lulled into a false sense of security as to their eternal condition. Those in San Jacinto were unconcerned about the flood until that morning when they awoke to the danger. But a warning has been sounded in God’s Word that there is a day coming of far greater importance than a local flood. This is when everybody will be called to give an account before God, and this world with everything that belongs to it will be left behind.
God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9). The Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners, invites you to flee from this “wrath to come” and turn to Him “while it is called today.” Lien now to His voice as He declares: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
ML-08/03/1980