When the Crocodile Gets Loose

In 2010, in the Democratic Republic of Congo,a man decided to make money selling a crocodile so he placed the two-to-three foot reptile in his sports bag and illegally brought him aboard a Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet flying out of Kinshasa. The crocodile managed to chew his way loose sparking a stampede amongst the terrified passengers.  Their sudden movement to escape caused the plane to go into a spin and crash into a house not far from its final destination. Nineteen people were killed with only one person surviving to tell the harrowing story. Ironically, the crocodile also survived only to be killed with a machete by rescuers going through the wreckage.[1]

​I’m sure the smuggler never considered that his croc would cause a plane crash.  That’s the problem with those who break the law seemingly to gain some benefit.    

Meditation
Lamentations 1:9—Her uncleanness stains her skirts.  She never considered her end.  Her downfall was astonishing; there was no one to comfort her.  LORD, look on my affliction, for the enemy triumphs!
 
Jeremiah lived during the most crucial period of Judah's existence as a kingdom.  Throughout the reign of five kings, this prophet warned his countrymen to repent from their wickedness or suffer the loss of their land. Bitterly he watched as the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar advanced to defeat and destroy Jerusalem and the holy Temple in 586 B.C.  The book of Lamentations is his heartbreaking description of a deported people.[2]

The Jews would not listen to God’s mouthpiece.  No, they preferred to burn incense to foreign gods, sacrifice their children as burnt offerings to Baal, and ignore God’s commandments (Jer. 19:4,5).  Refusing to consider the consequence of their actions they were judged and found guilty by the One who for centuries forgave their rebelliousness. 

When a nation is immoral and refuses to consider her end it is not long before she ends.  Her downfall will be astonishing and there will be no one to comfort her.  When the crocodile gets loose don’t expect to find peace in the cabin.  
 
Inspiration
Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.—Norman Cousins
 
©2014 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 

[1]http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/crocodile-on-a-plane-kills-19/story-e6frfq80-1225942045322
[2]Zondervan NIV Study Bible, ©1985