Prophetic Warning #3: Business As Usual.

One unusual defense mechanism we humans engage in is this stance of behaving as if everything is normal, when in fact it is not. There are a few pastors, our own BBCN pastors among them, who have called their churches to fast and pray during this time. My fear is that we have been so busy this month throwing birthday parties for ourselves that we have forgotten the call to consecration through fasting and prayer.

Prophetic Warning #3: The lie of "business as usual" in the face of destruction.

What was so special about October 28, 1929? Nothing. Its ordinariness stands in stark contrast to October 29, 1929, the day most historians use as the start of the Great Depression. When I think of October 28, 1929, I am reminded of the words of Jesus: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark..." (Matthew 24:37-38).

Many of us are not fasting and praying because we really believe today is like any other day. Figuratively speaking, we have never experienced rain. We see no clouds, and we conclude that our pastors and prophets, the "Noah"s of our day, are alarmist or foolish. To compound matters, some who claim to be Christians are still preferring the sin of the world to the joy of obedient, humble service to God. They are both ignoring and undermining the program and plan of God by saying "no" to His call, even as they sit in His house.

If that describes you, I'd like to remind you that God loves you and He wants you to return to Him with your whole heart. Why should you perish when you have known the truth? On this anniversary of the 1929 stock market crash, let's seek the LORD- to worship Him, to hear Him, and to do what He says.

This is not business as usual. God is shaking the nation and the world, and the only protection is Himself- He is the safe haven, the place of refuge. He is the source of joy and peace in the midst of crisis.

The door of the ark is on its hinges, and God is shutting it... will you be inside or outside?