Well, they have been forecasting that “the big one” is imminent. This morning it finally hit. Except it was in the midwest instead of California.

Ok, I know, it was only 5.2 on the Richter scale. But it was the first time I have ever experienced an earthquake. It wasn’t impressive in scale, but for a first-timer, it was big enough.

I was at work, on the fifth floor of St Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. I was standing at the nurse’s station when the floor started to “bounce.” I described it to someone as “that feeling you get in a bad elevator when you reach your floor.” Except it went on for about thirty seconds. I remember wondering at the time if there was a problem with our generator or something. Then I thought, “is this an earthquake??” My next thought was, “If this is an earthquake, I should get under a doorway for safety.” Then I thought, “I’m on the fifth floor. If this building collapses, it doesn’t matter where I stand.” And then it was over. The news people took five minutes to figure out that this was an actual earthquake.

Some people will look at this earthquake and say, “See, God’s judgment is coming! It’s the end times!”. I’ll tell you, though; the return of Jesus Christ is no closer or farther away because of this earthquake than it was yesterday. What I mean is this: there is a specific point in time when the Lord will return. God has a timetable, and this earthquake may or may not be a sign of the imminence of His return. What do I see in this earthquake? A display of God’s awesome power.

Psalm 77:14-18 You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples. You have by Your power redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The deeps also trembled. The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there. The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.