SearchRecent ArticlesRecent
|
This is one of the burning questions that come to our minds in the wake of such an overwhelming disaster. We need a reliable explanation, beyond impulsive assumptions, and speculation. Our response to this calamity will be greatly influenced by important lessons we can glean from it. Can we see a Divine purpose being accomplished through something so destructive and painful?
There is certainly no credible explanation that leaves God out of the picture. How can we account for the sparing of so many lives? There were too many perfectly orchestrated 'coincidences' for a reasonable person to say we were just 'lucky'. The numerous accounts we have been hearing are nothing less than astounding. But the tendency so often is for us to muddle through vague generalities about God's part in this calamity, and we never really take the time to get to the heart of the matter. We, too, often lean on well-worn clichés that don't deal with the most important realities. There is, in this disaster, a unique opportunity for us to come to grips with matters of the most profound significance. There are certainly things that are well beyond our limited understanding, but there are at least several fundamental lessons that can be seen from this powerful event. Lesson #1 The first thing that ought to get our attention, is the sheer frailty and mortality of our earthly lives. A calamity of this magnitude is especially effective in highlighting the plight of all mankind. It exposes the nearness of death with a clarity that rarely gets our attention on a normal day. On the average day in this world, the number of people who die is equal to approximately 10 entire towns the size of Washington, IL. This is not a reality we give much attention to in our regular routine. Calamity reminds us of our own mortality in a very unique way. In the normal course of living, the reality of dying is usually not dropped so violently on our own doorstep. We are not really forced to deal with it most of the time. But, despite the most vigorous efforts to diminish, deny, delay, or ignore it - death is the most terrifying reality that dominates this earthly world. Not one of us can be certain that we will be alive on this earth tomorrow. That uncertainty overrides all others. God has given us a clear and credible explanation for this unsettling reality. God warned the first man and woman of the serious consequences of rebelling against Him. God warned them that their rebellion would break their harmonious relationship with Him. They and their offspring would experience the horrific reality of spiritual and physical death. When they disregarded God's warning, they infected the human race with sin, and so began the reign of death that God's perfect justice demands.
Over time, we get so used to the effects of our fallen nature, that we scarcely give it much thought. The fact that we need locks, passwords, policemen, jail, weapons, etc... becomes so much a part of our everyday living, that we don't even give a thought to the root cause of it all. A few tense moments in the path of a deadly tornado, and its overwhelming aftermath, can bring the reality of the human plight to our attention in a most emphatic way.
When the dust is finally settled - be it a violent storm, or the fast and fleeting years of a human life - death wins. In spite of all our efforts to conquer or put this reality out of our minds, death reigns. All of us are sinners, and the wages of our sin eventually come due. Lesson #2 A second thing that ought to get our attention, is that God is merciful. God is merciful even in the midst of overwhelming disaster. God is merciful to sinners who are completely undeserving. How could anyone not be impressed with the incredible fact that so many people's lives were spared through such widespread destruction? Not everyone was spared, but most were. It is hard for people not to use the word 'miracle'. This particular storm has demonstrated the mercy of God in a very noticeable way. Not one of us deserved our lives being spared any more than the many people whose lives are so often taken in far less severe events. And yet God saw fit to spare hundreds of people through this extremely powerful storm. Many people displayed at least a basic grasp of this reality. Inspite of the instant loss of most their earthly possessions - many were exclaiming with genuine gratefulness, that they were glad just to be physically unharmed and alive. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we are no more worthy of our lives being spared, than those whose lives were not spared. There is an objection that is often put forward in the wake of such calamity; "If there is a God, and He is a loving God, then how could He allow something like this to happen, when He has the power to stop it?" The answer to this question is found in the extent to which the human perspective is so dangerously distorted. Perspective is everything in accurately assessing any difficult situation. The human perspective assumes that we do not deserve to be afflicted with such tragedies. The Divine perspective is that each and every one of us deserve far worse. We don't naturally see the severity of our condition, we don't want to admit the urgency of our plight. God has openly declared the nature of our plight, but we are not always willing to listen.
If we are humble enough to see how undeserving we are of such a remarkable deliverance, then we are in a position to catch a genuine glimpse of how merciful God is. Inspite of our continues societal, and personal rebellion against our Creator, He has dealt mercifully with us through a calamity so devastating, that people all over the country are in awe that there was not a large number of deaths. This provides the kind of glimpse into the very heart of God that ought to focus our attention on the ultimate display of God's mercy.
Physical death is not the worst of sin's consequences. Jesus declared that the most serious consequences of our sin is eternal condemnation in hell. God's holiness and righteousness is greater than we can comprehend. God's perfect justice demands the full payment for our breaking His perfect law. But God's love is also greater than we can comprehend. God's grace is greater than our sin - even the worst of it. In His infinite wisdom and loving-kindness, God had anticipated the horrific and eternal effects of our willful rebellion. God has extended mercy (pity) to us in the person of His own beloved Son.
God's mercy to us in Christ, is far more unfathomable than the temporal mercy He bestowed on our town through this devastating storm. The sparing of so many lives through this powerful storm ought to remind us of God's ultimate mercy to sinners, in sending His Own Son to personally bear the penalty for our sin. Those, who by faith, turn from their sin, to Jesus - will be delivered from the eternal judgment that will come on unrepentant sinners when this earthly life is over.
Lesson #3
There is a third lesson for us to learn from this disaster; possessions aren't what really matter in the end. Whether we experienced personal loss from this storm - or are close to those who have - each of us can see with a new clarity just how temporal our earthly possessions really are. Life can be very deceptive as we are lured into putting so much emphasis on things that have no lasting value. When the wind dies down, and our possessions are gone, the futility of an earth-bound- perspective becomes more obvious. The things we have are not what give us the life that satisfies. Jesus made this point in response to someone who was quite concerned about receiving their rightful portion of the family inheritance;
The only life that truly satisfies, is the Life that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
Jesus warned of a solemn danger on relation to all the things we want to possess:
There are then, at least 3 important lessons we can glean from this recent disaster:
Sin is the real disaster. It is the underlying cause of all disasters, suffering, and death in this world. And God has declared that all men are sinners.
God is rich in mercy. So much so, that He has provided a way for sinners to be rescued from the enslaving power, and eternal consequences of our sin.
The life that really matters, is found in Jesus.
|
|
|
"If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:31-32
|
A Ministry of Free Grace Church
1115 Glenn St. Washington, IL 61571 |