Dear Heavenly Father, how we praise you for salvation is found in you. Where does our help come from? From you Lord maker of heaven and earth. You watch over us, our coming and going now and forevermore. Father we pray for our President that he would lift his eyes to you and walk in your ways. Protect our President Lord and his family as well and may he be a witness to countless others and may they see you O Lord. Father we pray for our men and women in the service. Grant them courage and strength. Prepare them for the battle and give them a victory. Lord we know that you are great and so worthy of praise. You are our Lord and we will exalt you. We pray these things in Jesus name, amen.

December 1, 2007

Krakatoa

READ: 2 Peter 3:1-13

The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. —2 Peter 3:10

In 1883, the greatest volcanic explosion in modern history took place. Krakatoa, an island volcano along the Indonesian arc, shot 6 cubic miles of soil, rock, vegetation, and animal and human life 24 miles up into the stratosphere. Its shockwave traveled around the world seven times, and its debris fell as far as Madagascar—more than 2,000 miles away!

At the time of Krakatoa’s explosion, Captain Sampson of the British vessel Norham Castle was nearby and wrote in his log: “I am writing this blind in pitch darkness. We are under continual rain of pumice-stone and dust. So violent are the explosions that the ear-drums of over half my crew have been shattered. . . . I am convinced that the Day of Judgment has come.”

Captain Sampson believed that the world was coming to an end. The explosion does seem to fit 2 Peter 3:10, “The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat.” As terrible as Krakatoa was, though, it did not signal the end of the world.

Crisis has a way of shaking us out of complacency. It reminds us this world is not our home and encourages us to be godly (v.11). When it feels as if our personal world is coming to an end, we should focus on living for eternity.

A Prayer
Lord, my desire is to live for You whether circumstances are good or bad. Help me to focus on Your purposes. Show me today in Your Word what You want me to do.

Trusting God can turn a crisis into a treasure.

Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 40-41; 2 Peter 3

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