A Nearing Midnight commentary by Todd Strandberg

In August 2001, Dan Rather, the former anchorman for the CBS nightly news, stood on top of a building facing the burning wreckage of the World Trade Center. Trying to be profound, he told the listening audience, "This is a day you will remember for the rest of your life."

Mr. Rather made that statement with the understanding that major calamities occur on an irregular basis. Unfortunately, events of the past year alone have cast great doubt on the likelihood that 911 will remain crystal clear in everyone's memory.

During the past 12 months the world has seen a number of memorable disasters. A year ago, the U.S. and Japan were pummeled by a record number of hurricanes and typhoons; in December, the most deadly tsunami in history killed a quarter of a million people; in January, record rainfall in California caused homes slide down hillsides; this spring, Central Africa turned into a death zone as millions of people faced starvation; in July, England incurred its worst-ever terrorist attack; and just a few days ago, Hurricane Katrina generated the most costly natural disaster in American history.

So many catastrophes are occurring, there is a "B" list of events that failed to grab the headlines. At the same time Katrina was flooding New Orleans, 1,000 people in Iraq were trampled to death in a stampede; suicide bombings had become daily occurrences; and various infectious diseases such as West Nile, SARS, mad cow and bird flu began to spread ominously around the globe.

Despite the fact that we are seeing an unprecedented increase in the frequency of disasters, many people are still bold enough to dismiss these events as just part of a natural cycle. The Omaha World Herald featured an article that mocked the idea that Katrina was related to the end times. Stephen O'Leary, a liberal scholar at the University of Southern California, asked, "Where in the Bible does it say 'And the great city New Orleans would be destroyed by a hurricane and the end would come?'"

Mr. O'Leary might want to read 2 Peter 3:3-4: "Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.'"

In Matthew 24, Jesus gave mankind a simple way to know if the tribulation hour is drawing near. After the Lord described what would be the signs of the times, He said the calamities would occur like labor pains. The logical conclusion is that over time they would increase in intensity and frequency. I strongly believe we are now experiencing the advanced stages of these birth pangs.

Because of the escalation factor, skeptics have the option of waiting for things to get worse before they are convinced that we are in the last days. However, it is very dangerous to wait. First of all, it is questionable whether even another calamity would be enough to convince someone. Second, because it would be extremely unwise to be caught on the wrong side of the rapture, it is important to make the right decision now.

As Christians who know we are in the end times, our duty is to seek God's will. Far too many believers look at tragedies like 911 and Katrina as eye candy. They are intrigued by the occurrence of end-time events, but that fascination doesn't translate to positive action.

I can speak endlessly about how my heart goes out to the people in the devastated areas, but not until I personally decided to donate to one of the aid agencies was my concern certified. I hope all the regular visitors to this site have already donated to the relief effort. The organization I most highly recommend is Samaritan's Purse, which is run by Franklin Graham.

God allows events like Katrina to happen to remind us of our fallen state. Some already have guessed why New Orleans got the short end of the stick. Whenever Jesus was asked why ill fortune strikes people, He always answered by reminding His listeners that sin is the root of the problem. Without salvation, even the people on dry land will die.

"And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:2-3).

If the rapture does not happen soon, I fear we will see far greater heartache. For whatever reason, people have refused to humble themselves in the aftermath of these disasters. As a nation, we've come to place our trust in ourselves, the government, and our financial resources.

Calamity does provide an opportunity for people to help. The government's job is to serve the public, and there is always insurance and aid to rebuild. However, in the end, God is the only hope that will last.

"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts" (Rev. 9:20-21).