And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. – Luke 21:34-36
In a matter of seconds the predictions came to pass, and at the same time, Harry R. Truman, at age eighty-three, became known for his refusal to heed warnings. Mount Saint Helens in Washington had been showing signs of activity for weeks. People in the danger zone had been told to leave, and local resident Harry Truman was urged repeatedly to evacuate. However, he refused to depart from his home by Spirit Lake at the base of the mountain. He and his wife had operated the Mount Saint Helens Lodge until she died, and Harry felt the concerns were “over-exaggerated.” He said, “If the mountain goes, I’m going with it.”
On Sunday morning, May 18, 1980, the mountain erupted. An avalanche of debris flowed down at speeds between 110 and 155 miles an hour, covering Harry’s lodge by perhaps 150 feet and raising the water level of Spirit Lake by about 200 feet. No one ever found Harry’s body. He had been adamant in his purpose to ignore the warnings, and he suffered the consequences.
When Jesus was on earth, He told us to look for many signs and warnings about the last days before He would return. Yet, many people seem determined to ignore His warnings. How tragic it will be unless they turn and take heed!
Even when we have chosen to follow the Lord, it can be easy to become sidetracked by material things, financial matters, and the cares of life. We want to remember the warnings Jesus gave and be sure that we watch and pray. The signs of the Lord’s return are all around us; it’s time to look up!