And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15 (KJV)

Sir Isaac Newton’s 1st law says, “A body at rest tends to stay at rest.” When Sir Isaac came up with that brainstorm, I assume he wasn’t thinking of my house during Sunday afternoon football games.

On the other hand, he might well have been referring to some of the people who live next to Mount Kelud. It appears a fair number of the native folks are ignoring the warnings that are being put out by The Indonesian Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. Yes, that’s the name of the place that’s putting out the warnings. Maybe people aren’t moving because they fall asleep when the Centre’s representatives introduce themselves.

Even so, ignoring the government warnings is a dangerous thing to do. Over the years Mount Kelud has earned a reputation as being a nasty and very active volcano. In recent days, Kelud has had so many tremors and rumblings they can’t be counted. That’s why the Indonesian Centre for… (you know the rest of the name) told its people monitoring the situation to clear out. It’s simply too dangerous for them to stay.

Sadly, many of the 100,000 people who have been told to evacuate have decided to stay. They don’t think the volcano is ready to blow, and until they become afraid, they’ve decided to stay. So much are these bodies at rest committed to staying at rest, that when 400 police fanned out to escort people to shelter, the people hid. One person said, “We turned off the lights so that the police thought we had left.” Those are some pretty brave words from a person whose village was badly damaged in the last eruption.

A body at rests tends to stay at rest. That’s also true when it comes to matters spiritual. For 2,000 years God’s people have been sharing the Savior’s story of salvation with the lost. For 2,000 years, those lost have heard how heaven is God’s gift to those who have been given forgiveness of sins through the Savior’s sacrifice. For 2,000 years these lost have been informed of the lake of fire that awaits those who refuse to acknowledge the Christ as their Savior.

And what is their reaction? Newton said it, “A body at rest tends to stay at rest.” Now, while I am fearful for the people who are challenging the fires of Mount Kelud, I’m even more anxious for the people who ignore the eternal fire of damnation. In science, a body at rest may tend to stay at rest… but in matters spiritual, those bodies need to be moved from damnation to salvation. That’s what Luther said in the Reformation. It’s why we pray.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, hear my prayer as I speak for all those people who feel they are spiritually safe without a Savior. Send Your gracious Spirit, and using Your Word, bring them to faith in the safety Your suffering and gracious sacrifice provide. In Your Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Jeremiah 39, 52, 40    Hebrews 10:19-39

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