On April 15, 1815, the Tambora volcano in Indonesia erupted with the largest observed volcanic eruption in history. The explosion was heard 1,200 miles away and the death toll reached more than 71,000 people. 1816 was called the Year Without a Summer because of the resulting global climate abnormalities. As a result, crops and livestock died in the northern hemisphere, causing the worst famine of the 19th century.
The cloud of ash and smoke caused pitch darkness for two days as far away as 370 miles. The clouds of thick ash were still covering the summit more than a week later. The eruption reached the stratosphere. Course particles fell for 1-2 weeks, but some of the finer particles of ash stayed in the atmosphere for more than a year.
The number of direct deaths was about 10,000. On the Sumbawa and Lombok islands, 48,000 people died as a result of starvation and disease. Average global temperatures decreased slightly, but enough to cause agricultural problems around the globe. Abnormal weather, including frost and snow, lasted for 3 months and destroyed most agricultural crops in North America. The climate abnormalites were blamed for a severe typhus epedemic in Europe and the Mediterranean. Cool temperatures and heavy rains caused wheat, oat and potato harvests to fail in the British isles. The 1810s are coldest decade on record.
Although tremendous death and devastation was caused by the erupting magma, a much greater destruction was caused by the sulpher ash which was projected into the atmosphere, blocked light from reaching the earth, and resulted in severe weather abnormalities.
What are the spiritual clouds of ash in our lives which block a portion of God’s light from reaching us? Any form of sin could act as a spiritual cloud that prevents light from blessing our lives. Inappropriate media influences are an example. Many movies, television shows, books and other forms of entertainment are otherwise good except for one or two inappropriate parts. Those inappropriate parts may be like clouds of volcanic ash, blocking a portion of God’s light from shining down into our lives. As a result, our lives are a little colder and a little darker, and the consequences can be tragic, just as with the Tambora volcanic eruption.
John 12:46 - I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
We demonstrate that we believe Christ by abiding in His light and not the darkness. Another volcanic cloud which blocks light from Christ in our lives is hatred or refusing to forgive:
1 John 2:9-10 - He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
As we follow Christ by keeping his commandments, and as we love others and forgive, we can avoid unnecessary darkness and live in His light.
(The source for much of this article was the Wikipedia Tambora article.)
Posted on April 7th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Faith, Jesus Christ, Life Lessons, Self Improvement
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