It is interesting to me that those that don't believe in God try to find other reasons for all this catastrophe. For those of faith, some blame God, others call it sovereign. I suppose if I was an atheist, I suppose I wouldn't be able to sign an insurance policy that doesn't cover acts of God - there would be no such thing.
As a Christian there are some real stress-relievers beyond even the wonderful and supernatural peace of God. There are many comforting Bible verses. I like ones such as these: "you are graven on my palm" (Isaiah 49:16), "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2) and "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered." (Luke 12:7) It makes me feel known by my Creator!
As I think about those that are suffering in Japan an Libya today, I am wondering who they call on? Religion isn't very useful when your life is on the line; a God of power is. I have been rereading Like A Mighty Wind and I find my faith pretty pathetic compared to the Christians of the Indonesian revival. They really did have a God that met their needs. He multiplied food, allowed them to walk on water, the ate poison and were not harmed as well as some other amazing stuff. The intensity of the Spirit solved many arguments about whether a Christian can smoke, or drink, and whether it was profitable to have religious statues.
God showed up, and had an opinion.
I guess my point is this today, God is involved with us, although we can insulate ourselves very easily from any sort of intimacy with the Holy Spirit. He knows us, and if we truly have an individual relationship with Him, even our trials are pure joy according to James.
I don't like tragedy, and I don't wish it on anyone. I do love Jesus, and regardless of my circumstances, He knows me and I know him. He has my life in the palm of his hand. I have enjoyed God so much, I would rather be there in Heaven, yet I am not because the appointed time hasn't come. I do look forward to it!
For the time being, I am alien here on earth, caring for my family and loving on others as I have time and opportunity. It's not such a bad deal because the Kingdom of God is at hand!
How about you, what's your view of tragic world events?
6 comments:
That was in interesting perspective, and I think I agree. Being a Christian I can understand finding joy in the midst of terrible circumstances (although never have I had to deal with anything as drastic as a tsunami). I often wonder though, how we as Christians, are to share this joy with those in the midst of trauma. How can you tell a starving African man to find joy in his hunger? And how can you tell unbelievers in Japan and Thailand to find joy in Christ in the devastation ruining their entire lives? I often wonder these questions, and hearing about the earthquake in Thailand yesterday again raise those thoughts. Any ideas?
I share the same perspective as you. I often struggle with these questions though: How is one to tell a starving man in Africa to find joy in God despite his hunger? How is one to tell the Japanese and Thai unbelievers to find joy in the Lord even through the devastation tsunamis and earthquakes brought upon them? Being a Christian I can easily find joy in the Lord even during the times of my difficulty, but how is that belief to be installed into the minds of those who do not believe and yet have experienced great trauma?
At my last job, we had a co worker who took a smoke break and the debris from the 9/11 incident killed him.
That's why I say, "Smoking kills."
nicodemusatnite.com
@Alicia - good question. I think that people will embrace Jesus when they see it working in you and me. If the Kingdom was just talk, we could debate it, and folks would get saved. Because it is a Kingdom of power, it makes no sense unless your joy in the storm seems out of place to others.
Here is simple example. I once worked for a guy that was not saved. During the course of my employment, my mother was ill with cancer and died. He kept saying, "I don't know how you do it." A few years later his mother died suddenly - and I was the first one he called - even before family.
You never know. Thanks for commenting!
@Charlie - LOL.
I think God set up this world and set it into motion so it would keep going - and apart of having a "living" planet includes these events.
and once again those stories get me. That book is moving farther up on the list every week.
"How about you, what's your view of tragic world events?"
I look upon the events that happened in the last decade as a precursor of things to come.This is just only the beginning.
If you look at only one event at a time, you might loose sight of what is actually happening. Combine them together and it becomes clearer as to what is really going on.
Yes, the kingdom of God is close at hand.
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