Coordination

Is it just me, or does there seem to be times when a subject shines prominently in the public spotlight multiple times over several weeks and you'd either never heard of it before or it had been YEARS since the topic had been visited on such a universal scale?

Recently, there seems to be a lot of interest in the idea of planet Earth without people. "I Am Legend" investigates the topic quite nicely and now, on the History Channel, "Life After People" is doing the same. As if that wasn't enough, I saw glimpses of another show recently that predicts catastrophe for Earth as of 2012. If I saw what I think I saw, these predictions go back to Mayan astronomers and their calendar.

I find all of this stuff interesting, of course, since I happen to believe that Jesus will return on "the third day" (2 Peter 3:8 "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.") just as He said. There seems to be corroboration among secular sources if one can trust what's said in the media. So, even though none of this recent media blitz seems to connect the biblical account of the end of days with the secular accounts of the same, there seems to be growing interest in what happens to the Earth when people are no longer at the top of the food chain!

My friend Kathy and I have had this conversation many times. She is a "pan-millenialist," meaning that, to her, it matters not; it will all "pan-out" in the end." From a personal prespective, i.e., how it will affect me and those close to me, I agree. If Jesus comes back before I finish this, I intend and fully expect to "...meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:17) " However, theres a "great unwashed" to reach who, as predicted in scripture, go about their daily lives completely unaware. These are the ones who need to hear the message - that the Lord is coming, and that right quick!

So, just for the sake of discussion, let's say that the Mayans had an inside track on the truth and their calendar is correct - the world is going to end in four years. Are you like the 5 wise virgins or the 5 foolish ones? Have you made spiritual preparations? Will you be on the inside with enough oil for your lamp, or on the outside, wondering what happened? You know, there's no accidents in the Bible. Jesus told the parable of the 10 virgins immediately after explaining the events of His second coming in Matthew 24, so Jesus was talking to those "in the know;" those who should know about the signs of the end. So what does this mean? Are well-meaning followers going to be left out because they failed to prepare? Can true believers be caught unaware? I think it goes back to what Jesus said in Revelation: Revelation 3:15 - "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." It's entirely possible to call yourself a Christian and not actually BE one, according to Jesus. Jesus tried to warn us about this phenomenon before the Revelation to John. He said that trees without fruit would be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 7:18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.") and He said that we would know other Christians by their fruit. I've written about being a "fruit inspector" before, but not in this context. How sad would it be to find yourself on the outside looking in, just as the five foolish virgins were, when you've lived your life AS a Christian, going to Christian events, calling yourself one, and hanging around with other Christians?

Oh well....enough about that. Back to the original question; who coordinates these "media blizes" anyway? How is it that, supposedly at random, more than several shows, public appearances, magazine articles, etc., all covering the same topic, show up at once? I don't believe in coincidence. I believe that God controls all things either by direct action or by omission of action, so, at the root of it, God is in control. I guess I would like to know HOW it happens rather than why. Any help out there? - Dan