I've been writing a lot of commentary about recent events and how they may fit into Bible prophecy. Since reporting this news is the primary reason I started FulfilledProphecy, I guess there's nothing wrong with that. But, if reporting news is all we're about -- especially this type of news, the danger is we could leave people in worse condition than before.

Linda and I live in a rural area where brush fires can be a concern. As a result, besides keeping up with the weeds, many of us keep our most prized possessions -- the things that really count -- someplace where they can be quickly grabbed and carried to safety.

That's kind of the way I see the mission of Websites like FulfilledProphecy. The events we're reporting are like issuing a fire warning. Exactly when and where the fire will hit, we don't know. But, nevertheless, sooner or later it will come. And, we need to have gathered together the things that count.

The first thing we want to make sure we have, of course, is our lives. We want to make sure we survive what's coming. That's where the true Gospel comes in -- we need to know what it is. If we don't even know what the Gospel message is, how can we lay hold of it? Fortunately, the Apostle Paul has something to say about this matter. Paul said:

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also (1 Corinthians 15: 1-8 New America Standard Bible). 

Now, once we have our own lives taken care of, we can start thinking about the other things we wish to save. Or, can we? How about our family members -- will they survive what's coming? And, how about our neighbors -- will they survive? Then, there's the rest of the world to think about -- all those unbelievers.

Are they things that count?