An acquaintance of mine is fairly nebulous in her beliefs.
At times she talks about God as if she believes there is a God. At other times
she declares she is not a believer. She is a kind and loving and generous
person who believes in living a life consistent with many Christian values. She
teaches her children to be honest and trustworthy and considerate of others. To
me she personifies many adults who may have a general understanding of
Christianity but have not really heard the full gospel message and understood
the amazing, life-changing nature of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
When the recent tornados hit the U.S.A. my friend asked: Why would
God let this happen?
Well first, if you don’t believe in God, why shouldn’t bad
things happen? If our very existence is a haphazard result of random chance,
why should the weather be organised to suit our comfort? The earth is forever
moving and changing in various ways, so why should we be surprised if sometimes
the moves and changes are of a cataclysmic nature?
But for those of us who do believe in a creator God and a
created world, we must be able to give a reason for our beliefs, including why
bad things happen. My answer to this would be that we live in a fallen world
where everything, living and inanimate is subjected to the effects of sin. At
times the troubles that beset us are minor annoyances, and at other times they
are major catastrophes.
Mankind was created by God with free will, and our original
ancestors, Adam and Eve, chose to disobey God and succumb to the lies of Satan
that they would become like gods themselves. Satan himself, the Bible tells us,
was an angel who, governed by violence and pride, led a rebellion against God
and was cast out of heaven onto the earth. Only God is God and no other can
take His place.
From the time of the original sin, every person has battled
good and evil within themselves. Not only that, but God’s perfectly created
physical world experienced the results of sin. Romans chapter 8 tells us:
v 20 “For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty –
to futility, condemned to frustration – not because of some intentional fault
on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it. [Yet] with the hope
21That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its
bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious
freedom of God’s children.” (Amplified Version)
We know that it is the nature of things now to erode, to
decay, to age, to break down and to eventually die. All living things die,
whilst inanimate objects decay or change form. The world of drought, bushfires,
earthquakes and floods is a very different environment to the Garden of Eden.
In effect, the sinful condition of the human heart is reflected in the fallen
nature of the earth. In Genesis chapter 3, when God pronounced judgement on
Adam and Eve’s sin, he cursed the ground.
Christians must be careful, however, not to make claims that
certain events are directly linked to the spiritual condition of the people or
place in which they occur. We are all sinners, living in a fallen world and it
is up to God, not His people, to pronounce judgement. It is a general Biblical
principle that when people follow and serve God wholeheartedly and do His will,
He will bless and protect them and when they fall away from Him and idolise
other people or things, God may withdraw His protection and blessings, however
this is not always the case, as the book of Job demonstrates. God in His
sovereignty may use whatever means He wishes to draw people to Himself and
sometimes it may take a crisis to bring people to repentance. He is a just God
and is never unaware of the wickedness of this world and perhaps we should be
thanking Him for His restraint, rather than blaming Him when bad things happen.
And sorry, folks, but it’s not going to get any better.
Matthew 24 describes some of the earthly conditions which will indicate that
the times are coming when great tribulation will occur on the earth, sometimes
referred to by Christians as the “end times”. Matthew 24:7 tells us “there will be famines
and earthquakes in various places.” The book of Revelation describes a number
of natural and man-made disasters of an unprecedented scale which will affect
the physical form of the earth and the lives of its inhabitants- the contamination
of the world’s oceans and water systems, destruction of the land, earthquakes,
meteor showers, hailstones, and massive storms, even changes to the sun and
stars. (See particularly Revelation chapters 6, 8, 16, and there are other references
throughout the book.) This time of great tribulation will precede the return of
Christ to earth, as conquering King who will defeat Satan and judge those humans
still living who have denied Christ.
Yet there is hope! Glorious hope! For we know that God is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Revelation chapter 3
tells us “So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him
and he with Me.” (v19, 20). Jesus died on the cross at Calvary
to honour His Father God and to make a way for cursed, sinful mankind to be
back in right relationship with God, only through the blood of Christ. When we come
to Jesus in a prayer of repentance and faith, we become Christians and this
relationship is ever deepened by prayer, studying the Bible, God’s word, and by
fellowship in a caring Christian community.
God has not promised an easy life here on earth for those
who have committed themselves to Him, but He has assured us of His guiding Holy
Spirit and the blessing of His presence with us always, in this life and for
eternity when our earthly lives have ended. Whilst God will allow much to be
destroyed in this earth, He will also restore. The final chapters of Revelation
portray a beautiful picture of the New Jerusalem – God’s kingdom on earth and
in heaven – resplendent with the light and life of God. There will be no more
death or mourning or crying or pain. (Rev 21: 4). We will live in a land of
incredible beauty- jewels, rivers, flourishing trees and sights more wonderful
than we can ever imagine. The Bible both begins and ends with the marvels of
God’s creation.
Heavenly Father God,
thank You for Your word. Thank You for Your indwelling Holy Spirit which
quickens it to us. I pray for anyone reading here who does not know You, that
they will be encouraged to seek You and truly find You as Lord and Saviour of
their lives. I pray Father that we will be enabled to help those who are
suffering in this life, particularly when disasters strike. Thank You for the
wonderful hope and joy for all eternity that we have through knowing You as our
God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
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