Tidal Wave

“I’ll do something about it once it gets here,” the weathered old farmer muttered to himself, pruning one more branch off of his barren apple tree. For years he had tended this orchard, but nothing but a few rotten apples had ever grown. Situated on this island’s shore, his little orchard consumed all of his time. He did have a book on growing apples, but he didn’t really feel like reading it. Thus, he spent all of his time pruning, fertilizing, and watering it - all his own way, hoping that something would grow.

“Tidal wave! The boat will leave the island at midnight sharp!” The warning call resounded across the island. As there were no hills on the small island, complete evacuation was the only escape route. The old farmer looked up from his work. His gaze met an enormous wave slowly thundering towards the helpless island. “I’ll do something about it once it gets here. I mean, it’s gotta be at least a mile away yet. Once it’s actually close, I’ll grab my stuff and head to the boat. Besides, they’ll wait for me. I’ve got to keep working on this orchard.”

The wave kept rolling in. Midnight came, the boat left. The wave hit the edge of the island. Terrified, the man ran to get his belongings, but it was too late. He was lost in the depths of the sea, his orchard was ruined, and the island was left devastated.

Now, you’re probably thinking how dumb that guy was. But you know what? That man is us. There’s a tidal wave that’s rolling in to this earth. But we have an escape route.

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” - Revelation 22:12

Warning signs are all around us. We can look out and see the might wave rolling in. But do we prepare? Do we grab our belongings and head to the dock, or just ignore it and say, “I’ll do something about it once it gets here.” Our orchards are our characters. Do we have the fruit of the spirit? If not, do we try to obtain them ourselves and ignore the instruction manual?

Friends, the tidal wave is coming. Are you prepared? The boat will leave, with or without us. Midnight is coming soon.