USGN Article  - November 2004
Written by Terry Franklin

“Sleeping Before The Storm”

 If there is one thing I have never wanted to become, it’s a minister who gets on a platform and puts himself on “autopilot.”  We have all seen this….and it’s not a pretty sight.  Behind the trite phrases, canned cadence, and lack of sincerity (or worse – a faked “sincerity”), is a total lack of understanding of what a critical time in history we are living in. 

Prior to Hurricane Frances slamming into Florida’s east coast, an emergency alert was sent out through the media stating the following: “We are reminded that Saturday is Yom Kippur, a solemn Jewish holiday.  Your Jewish neighbors in the watch and warning areas observing Yom Kippur will not be listening to radios or watching T.V….and may not be aware of Hurricane Frances.” 

Imagine this – devout people, going through their normal religious exercises; trying to serve God, were unaware of a threatening storm that was on their doorstep!  And it was the unreligious who were knocking on their doors; going house to house, to bring the “truth.” 

Could it be that we are like the five foolish virgins in Matt. 25:5 who were dozing….right when the bridegroom was about to return?  Is the American church “going through the motions”…. unaware of impending danger?  Might it take a “wake-up call” from outside of our ranks to get us to listen to the sounds of the times; to open our eyes to the importance of every moment? 

And what about those of us who are in some type of ministry – are we making the most of every opportunity, even if it means that we might be misunderstood, ignored, belittled, or diminished in some way?  Or have we begun a downward spiral of compromise….and simply do the things that satiate our hunger for popularity – and put more money in our pockets? 

Fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – these are some of the most dangerous and serious, yet exciting and exhilarating times in all of history!  But we MUST keep our eyes open….“Father, please help me make this day count.  May I not be so caught up in my OWN things….that I miss what YOU are doing and saying.”

Previous Article |  Next Article | All Articles