The Sinking Sand Problem (Sliding Homes Change Addresses)

Periodically, houses in southern California go on vacation. They somewhat often make the news for sliding down hills. I have seen this several times over the past 10 years. It happened again.

Reuters has reported that a house in La Jolla collapsed and whole streets gave way in a landslide that shut down a rather large nearby section of the city. It reads,

"Fire officials said about 24 homes in the scenic beach town north of San Diego could be at risk if the slippage continues."

Now why is this noteworthy? This problem repeats itself, and no one manages to foresee the problem when they build houses on top of what is an obviously risky situation. People are "just like this."

The see the light of nature which clearly reveals the God of the Bible. And they know disaster is coming. In the West, scarcely a man has never heard some form of the Gospel (more or less accurately presented) which warns them to flee the wrath to come. What do they do? The same as always. They ignore it and hope the problem will manage to improve itself this time, building on the same precarious ledge as last year.

In Florida, also known as "hurricane alley," people can be seen -- just as the "big one" threatens to rush ashore and wreak havoc -- buying generators at extremely high prices when they could have bought at ordinary retail a long time ago.

Sometimes waiting "til I have to" commands a very high price. Nowhere is this more so in the case of repentance toward God and faith in Christ as the only hope in this life and the next upon which to rest one's expectation of forgiveness and mercy.

It isn't like He doesn't know your sins already. Confessing them won't surprise anyone. But we know what people will do; the Bible tells us. They will wait til Judgment Day and say, "but Lord, did we not do miracles, pass out sandwiches, go to church, pay our taxes, pray three times a day, tithe of our mint, cumin and other stuff, and do all kinds of meritorious things for you?" Men will appeal to their good works (or what they imagine so to be). Heaven has other ideas.

Want the right answer in advance? "God have mercy on me, a sinner [evil doer], for Jesus' sake." It isn't flattering, I know; but it's the truth. Let us do so far be honest with ourselves. No man in his heart of hearts really likes himself much (unless he is as self-deceived as Homer Simpson, who was made to have said in one episode "I've never regretted anything I've ever done.") One man once said, "A clear conscience is a sure sign of a short memory." It is either this, or else a good understanding of the Gospel of Christ.

Sometimes, you simply have to lose to win. And no one likes domestic surprises that head straight down.