The Tsunami - Doesn't God Care?
For many people, the terrible events of 26th December 2004, with the loss of so many lives, presents a problem. If there is a God, why did He allow such a huge disaster to strike? Why have so many parents been bereaved of their children and so many children orphaned by the deadly tidal wave, which swept the coasts of S.E. Asia?
From beginning to end, the Bible claims to be the word of God, and for Bible readers, there are many reasons for believing that this is indeed the case. So, what does the Bible have to say about God�s attitude to wholesale destruction of life? Does it comment on the reason we live in a world that suffers so much sorrow and death?
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 13 we can read of the words of Jesus in relation to two terrible events that had occurred in his day.
1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Two different examples of death and destruction are given: a massacre by the Romans and the death by misadventure of 18 people due to the collapse of a tower. The first was an atrocity, perpetrated by man and the second an accident. In fact the latter may be a combination of poor workmanship and an earth tremor (earthquakes are not unknown in the area). Didn�t Jesus care about such things? It is clear from the Gospel records, that Jesus was a very sensitive, caring person. He wept at the death of Lazarus [John 11 v 35], he had compassion on the sick (Mark 1 v 4) and he provided for his followers, when they were without food [Mark 6 v 4]. We therefore cannot doubt that Jesus would have been moved by slaughter of Galileans by the Romans and the death of 18 people by falling masonry. But what did Jesus conclude from these events?
Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish
Jesus doesn�t waste time lamenting for those, who had died, sad though that was, and pained though he might have been by the cruelty of the events. Rather, he gets straight to the point. We are all going to die, whether by human atrocity, accident, Tsunami or natural causes. Death is inevitable sooner or later. The issue is our response to that fact. What are we going to do about it?
Most people have shown their compassion for the survivors and reached deeply into their pockets. The response to the plight of these poor people has been wonderful to behold. Adversity often brings out the best in human nature. But - how many people have stopped to reflect upon the frailty of human life? It is extremely unlikely that we are ever going to be involved in a Tsunami. It is not likely statistically - that we are going to be killed by terrorist bomb or bullet - although sadly many people are these days. What about the chance of being killed in our car or on the road? We could shrug that one off too. Most of us are lucky to get away with it. The disaster always seems to happen to someone else. But we can�t really escape the inevitable. Just get an old photo out and see how that young face is now more lined. The eyes need glasses; the thick head of hair is now very thin in places! We are all aging - mortal people and one day the end will come.
Jesus� advice to his listeners and to us as we reflect on the Tsunami, is this "repent or you too will perish."
The Bible word "repent" means to have another mind: in other words a change of thinking. The message of Jesus is that we have to change direction. We must turn to him and God his Father and repent of our self-centred way of life by serving and obeying our Creator.
Paul has a similar message. [Acts 17 v 30] "God has commanded all men everywhere to repent"
If we repent of our sins, God is willing and happy to forgive us; because He doesn�t want anyone to die.
The Apostle Peter says:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. [2 Peter 3 v 9]
Longsuffering indicates patience on the part of God.
Put simply, if we choose to ignore God, we will die, or perish as the Bible puts it. But God will forgive our sins, if we change our mind, and by implication our way of life.
But we still die! So are we kidding ourselves? Peter goes on to explain a sequence of events that we find repeatedly in other parts of the Bible: a consistent message. Namely, God will not wait indefinitely before intervening. The reason He hasn't acted yet is because He wants as many people as possible to have an opportunity to repent.
But the day will come when God will act - just as He did long ago at the time of Noah when He used the waves of the sea to bring judgement on the earth:
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished. [Peter 3 v 5-6]
The implication in verses 10 -12 is that God is going to act again:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord?
What manner of people ought we to be?
The message is simply to use our time now as an opportunity to turn to God and repent. The prospect is that we will be able to participate in a 'new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness' [2 Peter 3 v13]. The Bible calls this the Kingdom of God.
Let us therefore take heed to the message of Jesus. The thousands of people who died on 26th December were no better or worse than we are. Unless we do something about it, we will all likewise perish.
So, let�s resolve to act NOW before it is too late! Read your Bible and find out what God wants you to do.
God�s longsuffering (patience) is our salvation. [2 Peter 3 v 15]