A call to the People of God

12.FEB.10

Editor: Matthew 24: 7, 8… And there shall be famines

and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Today, we are witnessing the fulfillment of Biblical prophesy. Haiti, I’m sorry, but words are just not enough, and even with the help of friendly nations, nothing is going to be enough.{{more}} I, therefore, look to the future and with the passing of time babes and sucklings will bear testimony as the history books of Haiti are rewritten. Now, however, is a most profound time in the lives of mankind.

Where do we Vincentians stand? Though we are judged individually, we shall be judged as a nation. Judgement is here with us. Therefore, since we are being judged as a nation, there is no room for removing specks or planks. Some people have even gone as far as saying disasters have always been on the earth since time immemorial. True, Noah was given instructions from God to prepare an ark of safety for the people. He obeyed, and in spite of all anguish and provocation, only eight persons were saved, along with the birds and beasts. Noah was God’s appointed man. He was chosen to save people.

2 Chronicles 7: 16-16: God appears to Solomon by night and says: “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locus to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my home, shall HUMBLE themselves and PRAY and SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins, and heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and satisfied this house that my name may be there forever, and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. “ These verses tell me that God found a man he could speak with, a person in whom he could transmit messages to, a people he wants to warn of impending danger. The passage also tells me that God has power not only to send suffering, but he has the power to divert suffering, and with the people’s intervention he will be the God of all chances. People of St. Vincent, dare you take God for granted! Dare we demote him from his pedestal. Intercessors are a nation’s priced jewels. They have the ability to touch God’s heart to circumvent troubles, perils, disasters you name it – He and He alone reverses an evil time and ushers in peace and prosperity. God is pleased with fervent and effective prayer. Read James 5, verses 17 and 18.

No one knows where will be the next Haiti but we know that the call has gone out for a penitent St. Vincent and the warnings to take heed how we build our houses.

Remember judgement begins at the house of God. Now is an appreciate time for me to quote Ezekiel 34:16. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick, but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgement. People of God we are called to repentance.

Sonja P. Israel