Where is God in all of this? This question is as old as human history and no easier to answer now as it has ever been. As I have watched the television, surfed the web and looked at the images in newprint, I have been shocked, grieved, saddened and angry as many people all across this land and world have been. Hurricane Katrina has truly left a wide and deep wound upon the land and psyche of America, a wound which will take long to heal and will leave a lasting scar.
As a person of faith, specifically faith in Jesus Christ and His Word, I too have been asking God and searching the Bible to respond in a way that would honor the name of Christ. One question that regularly arises is, "Did God do this?" This is a very complex question, but one that is important to address. As a Christian, I embrace the teaching that God is sovereign in all of His creation. He knows when one sparrow falls to the earth and He knows what our needs and desires are before we even ask Him. The Bible teaches that God sets up leaders and brings them down and that Jesus is the Lord and Ruler of the nations of the earth whether those nations acknowledge Him or not.
With these things in mind, I must conclude that weather patterns, natural disasters and all the other destructive forces of nature are under His dominion and command as well. Now, the question is, "Does God cause or allow these kinds of things to happen to people?" Based upon my reading of the Bible and history, I would have to conclude that He does both. If God is sovereign as I have already stated, everything must pass through Him if He is truly the God of the Scriptures. This belief is both a great comfort to followers of Christ and a troubling concept to say the least. Why would a loving God allow such suffering and pain to take place? I don't know all of the reasons, but I do know that we exist by, through and for God and that He is both Love and Justice personified.
WHERE IS GOD IN ALL OF THIS? HE IS RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALL! His call to us is to be "Right smack dab in the middle of it all as well!" As the church of Jesus Christ, we are commissioned to manifest the love, mercy and grace of God to all of those who are suffering and in need. I don't know all that He is up to, but I do know I must give, support, pray, and if necessary go to the people in need if my abilities or skills would be of service. In the weeks ahead, we may find refugees flooding our state as elsewhere, and the opportunity to open our hearts and homes may be pressed upon us. MAY WE RESPOND AS JESUS WOULD AND BE GOD'S HANDS AND FEET IN THE MIDST OF PAIN!
No comments:
Post a Comment