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The Roof Came Crashing Down - Have you ever had the roof fall down?
Imagine my reaction when a text message alerted me one morning that our ceiling had collapsed only one hour after leaving home for work recently!
The carport ceiling partially collapsed and would have damaged our car quite likely preventing the use of it to get to work. Immediately my thoughts went to God in thankful prayer for protecting our physical wellbeing as well as our physical goods. Our car is still in good working condition since it was purchased from the factory showroom back in 2005 and it is our one and only car. No matter its depreciated monetary value, it is extremely valuable in order to keep gainful employment working shift hours as a registered nurse. Also very handy for shopping, getting to weekly Sabbath services, and visiting family and friends as well as outings and excursions, even traveling to Feast sites.
Now that the initial shock has worn off and the damage to the carport ceiling has been repaired, it is good to reflect on lessons learned or any still needing refinement.
Recent autumnal weather has now passed and along with that the winter season is upon us. Our leafy local area has received some decent rainfall and roof gutters are notorious for getting blocked with leaves causing overflow and other resultant problems at this time of year. Unless one is diligent in clearing out gutters or have paid professionals do it then there is a risk of blockages. The problem where we live is that some gutters are very difficult to access in order to clean out all the vegetational debris either side of the carport’s pitched roof. Workmen have been able to regularly clean out the house gutters but not the carport gutters. And so a steady build up has occurred causing the ceiling to crack and split, finally giving way under the steady rain that we experienced overnight. All the signs were there for such a catastrophe to occur after years of seasonal changes.
Reflecting back on the lead up to the collapse, there were many cracks developing from tiny little hair line cracks to obvious larger splits in the gyprock (sheet rock or dry wall for all those born stateside). Towards the end we became accustomed to looking daily and examining the extent of the damage, especially the sagging along the cornices (crown moulding). Some days it was more obvious that further damage had occurred, whilst on others it was hard to detect. During the last couple of weeks before the collapse of the roof structure, it certainly did look like a disaster was imminent. All the signs were there. However, as much as we were watching, we just could not pinpoint exactly when the ceiling was going to cave in.
Signs of the End Times
Thinking about timely signs I am reminded about the account in the Bible where Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives and the disciples asked “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying I am the Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:3-8). Further along in verse 14 of the same chapter in Matthew we can read “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come”.
This scripture is part of what is known as the Olivet prophecy because Jesus preached and taught his disciples on the Mount of Olives about the Sign of the Times and the End of the Age, the Great Tribulation, and the coming of the Son of Man. This is also part of the gospels of Luke 21 and Mark 13.
God’s called out ones are given strong repeated warnings and many details to watch and look out for; some of which will be persecutions, imprisonment, betrayals from spiritual and physical family members, friends, and some will even be sent to their death. God warns us that His children will be hated by all for His name’s sake (Luke 21:17).
The Sudden Collapse of the Israelite Nations
Just like the collapse of our carport, the collapse of the Israelite nations — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and other white peoples of European nations — will come swiftly. The signs will be there as prophesied in the Bible and only those watching, praying, and close to God in a humble and repentant attitude will be listening, paying attention, and ready for what will transpire.
Remember what happened to Lot’s wife? She was hesitant and she looked back at all that she was leaving behind to her detriment — she perished by being turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Remember all the people in Noah’s days drowned in the Great Flood? They openly laughed and ridiculed Noah for many years while he diligently went about God’s work building the huge ark in order to be ready for the coming flood. Only 8 people escaped to safety. Noah and his immediate family. God refers to this in Matthew 24:37-39 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be”.
We are given plenty of warning in God’s word for signs to watch out for. God does not want His children caught unaware. That is why He urges us in Mark 13:23 to “...take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand”. However, we must also remember in Mark 13:32-33 “But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is”. This scripture is warning us to not get caught up with the focus on exact dates because God would rather have us watching our spiritual state as the most important part of our daily preparation for the end times.
We simply cannot know the exact timing because God tells us in Matthew 24:44 “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him”.
Furthermore, we would be wise to take notice of the parable of the fig tree in Mark 13:28-31 and discern the times we are now living in. In the meantime we are to be fully involved in carrying on with the Great Commission just like Jesus Christ told his 11 disciples on the appointed mountain all those years ago in (Matthew 28:19-20).