By Harold Keller

Tuesday night, tornadoes ripped through five southeastern states (Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama) killing over 50 people.

The devastation was shown repeatedly on every television station on Wednesday. According to Harold Brooks, a meteorologist at the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma, these were the most deadly storms since 1971. Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee described it as “the wrath of God.”

I wondered how many, if any, ever considered that Tuesday might be their last day.

That same day, thousands of people were celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The occasion is described by some as a big party before the season of Lent, which is a period of six weeks before Easter to repent and sacrifice.

Wednesday morning, a radio talk show host played an interview with two women which was taped at midnight Tuesday. (This the time the police tell the people on Bourbon Street that the party’s over.) The two women were asked if they were ready to end the party. “Never!” they said. “We wish the party could go on and on.” They added, “We can never get tired of partying.”

I believe, according to the Bible, that we are living in the end times. I heard it said that we should plan like we’ll live forever, but live each day like it’s our last.

Jesus warns us that before He comes back, the nations and kingdoms of the earth will rise against each other and there will be famines and earthquakes in many places, but this is only the beginning of horrors to come. (Matthew 24: 7-8).

The Bible, also, says that no one is promised tomorrow. We are warned to be ready at any time to face our Creator and be prepared to give an account of our lives. I hope the people who were killed Tuesday were ready to enter eternity.

It would be interesting to know if all the people who celebrated Mardi Gras would have chosen to do something different if they knew it was their last day.

If you have any questions, or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call (985) 652-8477, or e-mail: hkeller@comcast.net.