Where will the next earthquake strike?

2010 has reminded us of the dangers associated with earthquakes. On January 12 of this year an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck near the capital of Haiti. In the aftermath it was estimated that 230,000 died and a million were left homeless. Six weeks later a more powerful earthquake struck Chile, registering at 8.8 on the Richter Scale. Because it was centered in a remote region, casualties were significantly fewer.

 

With images from the Haiti catastrophe in mind, "uneasy" is a word that describes our reaction to a report earlier this week. Researchers from leading universities have concluded that the San Andreas Fault is more volatile than previously thought. This fault line, which runs virtually the entire length of the state of California, lies perilously close to large metropolitan centers.

 

Based on their studies, researchers feel a quake with a magnitude of 8.1 would not be unreasonable to expect. Such a "wall-to-wall temblor" could produce disastrous results. That sort of scenario is not considered an "if" proposition, but "when". And when it will occur no one knows.

 

Earthquakes are not uncommon in world history. Their proximity to large centers of population determines how calamitous they will be. That's why the presence of the fault lines in California is so worrisome. But what can be done? There's no way to "fix" the San Andreas Fault. About all that can be done is to move away from known faults.

 

Identifying where these faults lie is a key to one's safety. Could that not also be true in our personal lives?

 

The Bible doesn't use this image, but we are certainly warned about common areas of struggle. One such warning is found in Ephesians 4:26,27: "'Be angry, and do not sin'; do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil." It's not hard to detect this fault line in one's personal life. When things easily irritate us to the point of rage we can see the fault widening. Without positive corrective action (which God can teach us) we are ultimately headed for "the big one".

 

Peter pointed to another common fault line: "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11). Fleshly lusts are based on appetites God placed within our bodies. Satan, however, twists them so they become masters rather than servants. When love of pleasure reigns supreme we should see the fault lines widening.

 

Here's one more fault line to consider: "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). In case you didn't notice, James' tongue was in his cheek as he made that statement. We all have problems in controlling our tongues. Some, however, don't realize the magnitude of their problem.

 

We all have our faults. How vital it is that we take time to survey our personal landscape in order to know where those fault lines lie! "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Regular study and meditation in God's word is our best defense.

 

Timothy D. Hall