The Owl Is Hooting

One summer two fishermen and a guide went to Canada to a special lake where there were supposed to be plenty of "big ones." After a grueling hike, they finally arrived and were soon drifting quietly in a canoe over the smooth, serene water of the beautiful lake. Loons screamed their disapproval, and a big black bear ambled out of the brush to the shore. Suddenly, an owl broke the silence with a long, "Whoo, whoo, whoooo." The guide stopped paddling and said, "Did you hear that? The owl just said, 'Drop everything and set up camp, get ready for the storm.' When you hear an owl hoot in the daytime, it means rain before tomorrow." Sure enough, that night it rained.

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders (Matt. 16) because they knew how to predict the weather, but they failed to recognize the obvious signs that He was the Messiah. Later He told His disciples of the signs announcing the judgment and His second coming. Many of these signs have been fulfilled, so we know these events are close at hand, and that we should be getting ready. But getting ready not only involves personal preparation; it entails giving a warning to others. We are told to be faithful watchmen on the walls to warn of impending conflict.

But, you say, what can I do? I don't have the ability nor resources for public evangelism. I'm not comfortable giving Bible studies. I'm fearful of witnessing to strangers. D. L. Moody told the story of a man who was crossing the Atlantic Ocean by ship. He was terribly seasick and was confined to his cabin. One night he heard the cry, "Man overboard!" He felt that there was nothing he could do to help. Then he said to himself, "I can at least put my lantern in the porthole." He struggled to his feet and hung the lantern so that the light would shine out into the darkness. The next day he heard the person who was rescued say, "I was going down for the last time when someone shined a light through a porthole, and, as it shone on my uplifted hand, a sailor in a lifeboat saw it, grabbed it, and pulled me to safety." Everyone can hold up his light, use his one talent no matter how small, to accomplish God's purpose to rescue the perishing.

    "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord 
    so cometh as a thief in the night.
    But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, 
    that that day should overtake you as a thief" (1 Thess. 5:2-4).

The signs of the times in the sun and moon and stars, in the roaring of the waves, in the shaking of the earth, and in the distress of nations all signify that it is time to "drop everything and set up camp." It is time to get ready for the storm, for "the owl is hooting"