Why are natural disasters so deadly? We read of entire villages being swept away by flood waters. We hear of cities being leveled by earthquakes. Elsewhere, people perish when their houses are destroyed by wild-fire. Why do so many people die in this way? Why are so many made destitute? One reason is that people refuse to heed warnings of impending trouble and prepare for it.
Jesus made this sad comment about the people of Noah’s time: “…in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away…” (Matthew 24:38-39 NIV)
Why did the people know nothing about the disaster which was about to sweep them all away? It was not for lack of warning! 120 years passed between the time God decided to destroy the earth and when He sent the flood (Genesis 6:3). The people were given 120 years to hear the warnings Noah gave them, yet they paid no heed. They knew nothing until the flood was upon them.
Not only did the people have a verbal warning of what was to come, they also had a visual warning. They could see the ark Noah built to spare his own family and the animals. Yet, they paid no attention. They perished because they ignored the means of escape which was right in front of their eyes. They made no preparation for what was coming.
Just as the people of Noah’s day were ignorant of the disaster which was coming upon them, many people today are unaware of the disasters they face. Because they are unaware, they make no preparations. Yet, just as the people of Noah’s day had plenty of warning about what was going to happen, we also often have warning of the disasters which are coming upon us.
What warnings do we have today? By looking at what has happened in the past, we can have a good idea of what is likely to occur in the future. For example, places which have experienced an earthquake are likely to have another one. The monsoon comes regularly each year. Places which have been flooded in the past by the monsoon rains are likely to flood again. Similarly, certain areas are prone to land-slides. In other areas, fire occurs regularly. We do not have to be taken by surprise as the people of Noah’s day were.
In view of this, what preparations should we make? How can we protect ourselves against disaster? First, we should give careful thought to the place we live. Jesus told a parable about two men. One built his house on the sand, the other built his house on a rock. When storms came, the house built on sand collapsed while the house built on rock stood firm (Matthew 7:24-27). Though Jesus was teaching about the spiritual truths upon which we should build our lives, the same principle applies to our physical homes. We should not build in those areas in which they are likely to be destroyed. For example, it is foolish to build on the side of a steep mountain which is subject to landslides.
Not only should we think about where we build, we should also think about how we build. The Apostle Paul used the metaphor of building a house to describe the care and diligence with which we ought to build up the church (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). He pointed out that the quality of a person’s work will be demonstrated by how it stands up under adversity. The same is true for physical structures. We must build with materials which are suited to the conditions our houses will face. For example, if we live in an area where fire is common, we should not build our houses out of materials which easily catch fire.
We not only need to give thought to where we build and how we build, we also need to consider what we build. In other words we should not only consider the needs of our families but also the nature of the calamities we are likely to face. For example, it is best not to build at all in areas which are prone to flooding. But if there is no choice, then it is prudent to build so that most of the house is above the highest level flood waters can reach. If it is not possible to build the entire house above the water line, then at least build a high platform where family members will be safe from the flood. Similarly, if we must live in an area which is subject to destructive winds, then we should dig a room below ground where we can go for safety.
You might be thinking, “This is very well, but I can’t afford to build like this!” It’s a matter of priorities. We may have to do with less so that what we do have will protect us. What is better? To build one room which can withstand an earthquake, or three which are sure to collapse?
Preparation for calamity involves more than taking care how and where we build our houses. King Solomon wrote, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” (Proverbs 21:20 NIV) What this passage means is that it is wise to store away a little extra. Should a disaster come, it might not be possible to go to our normal jobs for a while. The markets and stores may be closed. But if we have extra food in the house, we will not go hungry. If we have put away some extra money we can still purchase what we need even if our income is disrupted. Also, if we have some extra put aside for the times calamities strike, we will be able to help those who are in need.
There are other practical things we can do in order to prepare for disasters. For example, it is wise to make copies of our important papers and store them in a different place. If one set is destroyed, we will still have a set. Also, we should think about what we will do if we become separated from our families. Have you agreed on a place where you will all meet if it is impossible to return to your home?
In this program we have talked about natural disasters and some of the things we can do to prepare for them. However, God warns us about another calamity which is coming. One day not only our world but the entire universe is going to be destroyed. If we are not ready for that day, we will be destroyed with it. The Apostle Peter writes, “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and with water. By water also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. …The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. …So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” (2 Peter 3:3-14 NIV)
In this passage, Peter makes it clear that the only way to prepare for the day when the earth will be destroyed is to repent of our sins and make our peace with God. We make peace with God by following Christ.