Summer Bay Resort in Clermont, Florida

"Sinkholes"

This is not the vacation they had planned! A week at a resort in sunny Florida sounds like the perfect prescription for relaxation and rest. But this past Sunday night those who were guests at the Summer Bay Resort in Clermont, Florida were rushed out of the buildings. Before long one of the buildings had mostly disappeared from sight, as a large sinkhole opened up beneath it. Fortunately, all 35 guests were safe.

Jeff Bush was not so fortunate. In February of this year, he was asleep when a 20-foot- wide hole opened up beneath his bedroom in Seffner, Florida. He was not rescued.

Here in the area where I live, sinkholes have been appearing more frequently. Last year an elementary school was closed when a large sinkhole was discovered nearby one Saturday morning. Just last week a main highway in the area was shut down when a deep chasm suddenly appeared.

Sinkholes are the result of underground erosion. In our area we're receiving far more rain than we normally do (about 15 inches above normal for the year). That water has to go somewhere, and as it rushes into unseen waterways it erodes the soil and rocks that form the foundation for the surface above. The hole may open up without warning.

Erosion can happen in other forms. The Bible speaks of the danger of allowing the foundation of our faith to be chipped away, a little at a time. David recognized this threat when he wrote this: "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3). Care must be taken to guard foundations.

One vital foundation that must be protected is the church. Paul pointed to this in 1 Timothy 3:15: "But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

Most know the importance of a pillar in a building. Such a column usually supports an overhanging part of the roof. If the pillar is removed, that part of the roof will collapse. If the church is not carefully guarded and preserved, just as the Lord gave it, how can the truth stand? The church must act as guardian of the faith that has been given to us.

The collapse of faith is presented in stark terms in 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12: "And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they might all be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." When a sinkhole opens up beneath our faith, destruction results!

Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you'd like to discuss these ideas further.

Timothy D. Hall