Whose Fault is it Anyway Part 3
August 31, 2005
As Hurricane Katrina dissipated, millions of lives were shattered. Homes and property destroyed, over 1,800 lives lost, countless animals lost as well. American refugees lived in sports stadiums and arenas and tried to figure out if loved ones were safe and how they would rebuild what they had lost; namely their way of life.
At 22 years old I was working at a resale shop in Pickerington and I got an important phone call that couldn't wait until my break. It was my squad leader from my Army unit calling to tell me that my company had been put on alert to activate for duty in response to the hurricane. We would be potentially going to Gulf states to help in any way we could. It never happened, and I was very sad about that.
Not since September 4 years prior had such a disaster happened and everyone was left wondering why? In August of 2005, I had been a follower of Christ for only a month or two but I remember people saying that Katrina was God's judgement on the city of New Orleans. Over and over I heard this said by the "nonsecular" talking heads.
But what about the places that were not New Orleans? The supposed most vile neighborhood in New Orleans, Bourbon Street, wasn't even hit very hard. I believe the same people who claimed that Katrina was God's judgement on the USA are the same ones that say that Corona virus is God's judgement on the world.
Last week, I drew your attention to some calamities listed in the Bible that God seemed to be silent about the origin of. Things like famines, which are listed many time. Terrible things, for sure, but God is never mentioned as sending most of them.
Sometimes, bad things just happen. Lightning strikes, tornadoes are formed. Diseases spread and kill crops or people. Earth is a pretty great place to live...sometimes. The perfection of Eden is long gone and we basically live in a beautiful wasteland of what God originally created. God is still sovereign and is still in control of all things, however, what we tend to see more of in the "Church Age" is God's allowance.
At 22 years old I was working at a resale shop in Pickerington and I got an important phone call that couldn't wait until my break. It was my squad leader from my Army unit calling to tell me that my company had been put on alert to activate for duty in response to the hurricane. We would be potentially going to Gulf states to help in any way we could. It never happened, and I was very sad about that.
Not since September 4 years prior had such a disaster happened and everyone was left wondering why? In August of 2005, I had been a follower of Christ for only a month or two but I remember people saying that Katrina was God's judgement on the city of New Orleans. Over and over I heard this said by the "nonsecular" talking heads.
But what about the places that were not New Orleans? The supposed most vile neighborhood in New Orleans, Bourbon Street, wasn't even hit very hard. I believe the same people who claimed that Katrina was God's judgement on the USA are the same ones that say that Corona virus is God's judgement on the world.
Last week, I drew your attention to some calamities listed in the Bible that God seemed to be silent about the origin of. Things like famines, which are listed many time. Terrible things, for sure, but God is never mentioned as sending most of them.
Sometimes, bad things just happen. Lightning strikes, tornadoes are formed. Diseases spread and kill crops or people. Earth is a pretty great place to live...sometimes. The perfection of Eden is long gone and we basically live in a beautiful wasteland of what God originally created. God is still sovereign and is still in control of all things, however, what we tend to see more of in the "Church Age" is God's allowance.
For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth since what can be know about God is evident among them, because God has show it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
Romans 1:18-25
The New Testament is full of wording similar to this, and frankly so is the Old Testament. God lets things happen sometimes, often to those who don't have an interest in His involvement in their lives. That flat tire we talked about about; maybe I ran over a piece of road garbage. But MAYBE, the life of the tire was simply complete. Things have expiration dates. The world isn't an icebox, the climate is going to change. Why are we shocked when in late August, there are hurricanes in the tropics of Haiti, Cuba, and Florida? It happens every year! Things just happen and some are worse than others. If we blame God for these things, we might as well blame ourselves for picking ourselves over our relationship with God in Eden.
The idea of Eden was that God and man would live in perfect relationship; that all was right in the world. Because of Christ, that is the kind of future we have with him. When things go wrong, it is just a reminder that we haven't reached the finish line yet.
The idea of Eden was that God and man would live in perfect relationship; that all was right in the world. Because of Christ, that is the kind of future we have with him. When things go wrong, it is just a reminder that we haven't reached the finish line yet.
Things to Consider
- In what ways have you seen God mend the broken-hearted when tragedy strikes?
- In what ways have you seen the Church do their part?
- When something like a hurricane or a virus comes, how is your faith impacted?
The Bible and history in general are pretty clear we should expect hardship, calamity, and just bad things in this world. Without direct insight from God (which the Bible is) - how do we have any perspective to determine if God is directly responsible for causing something to occur, or knowing it would happen and allowing it?
ReplyDeleteThe saying "It Is Not What Happens To You It Is How You Respond To It" - seems to be an appropriate thought. There is some value in contemplating the "why it happened", but whether a follower of God or not - how we react really dictates how the event impacts the rest of our life. A Christian has a holy Father to strengthen them, guide them, given promises of an eternity to come. God mends the broken hearted with love, peace, hope, strength, and contentment. There is a big difference in the lives of those with the attitude "It is what it is" -vs- "It is what it is, but I know God will guide and love me through it".
-Ben