By Pastor John Chapman, First Baptist Church, Havre
Jan. 1, 2000 has come and gone, thankfully without much turmoil. The fears and anxiety of the unknown effects of Y2K combined with the media hype from both camps of reactionists have been resolved at the passing of time.
Aside from those who took drastic action and moved to the cabins in the woods with a year's supply of necessities, I hear the reactions of many who saw this New Year in with a quiet observance in their homes or slept through it all.
Please don't get me wrong. I am very thankful that God had given His calm assurance and peace to those who trusted Him, and that the pessimists' dreams were deflated.
But I see another trend that seems to rear its head too often to be a coincidence.
Please consider this: Now that the threat is basically over and we see that most of the hype from reactionists were unjustified, we sigh a breath of relief saying, "I knew it would be nothing." As an isolated event, there is not much to consider, but when we see repeated threat of catastrophe resulting in nothing, we become callous to hearing the news. Just as a frog can be boiled alive in gradually increasing temperatures, so our ears and hearts can become callous to news we hear.
The media play upon this theme in many releases pronouncing imminent destruction only to be resolved by the combined courage of a few. Current events repeat this same theme in "Comet Children," doomsday reports, end of the world predictions and global destruction from nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. These are real threats, but a constant exposure to these headlines brings a deaf ear to the truth when it will happen.
As believers of God's Word, the Bible, we read of God's revelation of the things that will happen, the truth of how the world will end. Although many have tried to interpret the day or year this will happen, God alone knows His scheduled time.
Let's keep an open heart tuned to His plan, and open eyes reading His word, an obedient heart that is always prepared for His return, and a peaceful heart trusting in His promise.
Don't get caught up in the hype, just trust and obey the Creator whose plan reigns supreme.
Although the world cries, "Wolf, wolf!" keep your eyes on God's Word and you won't be fooled or caught off guard.
May God bless you in this new year.
