A Faulty History

Within the past month, Los Angeles has experienced not 1, but 2 mild earthquakes that were large enough to shake things up a bit. And all along California, I’ve been noticing reports of earthquakes recently. Thankfully, there were no serious damages or injuries reported from these recent shakings. The reason for these quakes means that there is substantial pressure on two (or more) plates that are pressed up against one another, usually driving one up and the other down, or side to side, which cause the violent shaking.
This past week, as I came home from my vacation, I was able to visit Pinnacles National Park, which is southeast of Monterey, CA. The park sits right on top of the San Andreas Fault Zone, I know, not the best place to visit with so many recent earthquakes happening recently, but I was only there for a short amount of time. As a result of this fault zone, it has created two distinct areas. On one side, the land was lifted and filled with volcanic rocks creating steep cliffs, which are great for hiking and scenic vista points. But just on the other side of that fault line lies sedimentary rock and sand which dropped below sea level and relatively flat lands. The contrast is easily seen while driving to the park from the east or the west.

While Californians are attuned to the possibility of earthquakes, I’m not sure we will ever be fully prepared for when the next “big” one hits. There is no telling the kind of magnitude the next one will be. And while California has experienced some pretty devastating shakers in the past, we know this will not be the last.

But, as Christians, we know there will be one final time when God will shake things up in the earth. In Hebrews 12:25-29, it talks about this very fact:

²⁵See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 12:25-29¹

God is going to shake the earth and the heavens to remove what can be shaken, which the verses tell us are created things, and will not remain. But that which cannot be shaken, will remain. Thankfully, we are to understand what cannot be shaken is the kingdom of God, which is represented as our eternal inheritance that has been kept for us by Him (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-4).

This is the great joy as believers, that no matter how many earthquakes we face throughout our lives, one thing in our life remains unshakable, and that is our assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ. While we may not escape the physical safeties in this world, we can be thankful that we will never be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord! (cf. Romans 8:38-39).

The question for you is this: Are you worshiping the unshakeable God who has the power to shake things up, or are you worshiping the created things that are shakable?