Haiti?
By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
Search our pages => http://loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html
HTML version of this page, with more links and better formatting, is
located at=>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/pearl-naturaldisasters.html
Why Does God Permit Natural Disasters? If He is all-powerful, why doesn't
He intervene to prevent very bad things, such as the recent earthquake in
Haiti?
Here is the answer, as I see it, from a Christian Universalist position.
First, recognize that God does not permit us to understand all things at
this time. Why not? I don't know. He just doesn't permit it. At the
present time, we see things only dimly, as through a glass.
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now
I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."
(1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV)
Nevertheless, there are certain things He does permit us to know,
including these:
1. God is absolute sovereign over everything. He created everything; it
all belongs to Him. Nothing happens without His knowledge and consent.
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16 KJV)
2. God has ordained the laws of Nature, including the laws of Physics,
such as The Law Of Gravity. He does not usually interfere with their
normal, mechanical, cause-and-effect operation. When He does interfere, it
is considered a miracle. So when the mechanic fails to fasten the bolts,
and the wing falls off the airplane, and it crashes, killing your child,
God didn't do it: the mechanic did. Yes, God could have kept it from
happening, but in order to do so, He would have had to interrupt the
normal operation of His creation. He doesn't do that very often. Many of
the bad things that happen to good people are the result of the normal
cause-and-effect workings of Nature. For instance, people are designed to
wear out and die. That's just the way it is. These things happen to good
people and bad people alike.
"for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
(Matthew 5:45b KJV)
And in the case of earthquakes, the natural geological processes which
caused the earthquake in Haiti have been going on for millions of years.
Yes, God could have stopped the earthquake from happening, but that would
have forced Him to overturn His basic laws of Nature. And He established
these basic laws of Nature so that the universe would operate in a
rational cause-and-effect manner everywhere, as He desires. He very rarely
overturns his laws of Nature for any reason.
3. For some reason, Satan and his demons have certain rights to exist and
to act. And they hate us. They will harm us as much as they can. As
Christians, we have some authority over them, but few of us know how to
use it. Many of the bad things that happen to good people are caused
directly by Satan and his demons. Acts 10:38 speaks of people being
"oppressed of the devil."
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."
(Acts 10:38 KJV)
4. Sometimes, God will warn us in dreams or by some other means, when bad
things are heading our way. If we cultivate a close relationship with the
Holy Spirit, we are more likely to be warned of impending trouble so we
can avoid it. Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and baby Jesus
into Egypt, to escape Herod who was trying to kill Jesus (see Matthew
2:13).
5. No matter what happens, if we love Him, God will make EVERYTHING work
out for our own good in the long run, even if this idea seems preposterous
at the time.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
(Romans 8:28 KJV)
6. The world is a very rough place. We can expect much pain and many
difficulties of all kinds. Why? We don't know. That's just the way it is.
"Man that is born of a woman is of few days,
and full of trouble." (Job 14:1 KJV)
7. The good news is that Heaven awaits us, and then all our troubles will
be gone.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain: for the former
things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4 KJV)
8. Until then, we have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, Who will be with
us, helping us and loving us at all times.
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"
(John 14:16 KJV)
<><
If you, yourself, have had bad things happen to you, then this prayer is
for you.
"Comfort In Sorrow"
I pray the Lord will comfort you in sorrow,
When sadness fills your heart with dull despair.
When things you wanted most seem gone forever,
I pray His holy presence gives you peace.
When nothing in this world seems safe or certain,
I pray you have the Lord and He has you.
Amen.
<><
Please also see our pages on Christian Universalism. . .
http://www.loveallpeople.org/christianuniversalist.html and . . .
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/christianuniversalism.html
May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word.
Rev. Bill McGinnis <><
bmcgin@patriot.net
See more pages like this, at our Index of Pearls Of Faith, a treasury of
Biblical truths.
Please also see our related pages . . .
CHRISTIAN
ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS
POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Sitemap
Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
All of our original content on all of our pages is in the Public Domain.
Webmasters: you may link to our pages by any means you choose, including
"framing."
You can accept Jesus here and now at Jesus Direct -
http://www.loveallpeople.org/jesusdirect.html
To support us, please visit the advertiers appearing on our pages.
HTML version of this page, with more links and better formatting, is
located at=>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/pearl-naturaldisasters.html
We are http://www.LoveAllPeople.org
"Start Each Day The Positive Way," at Internet Daily Chapel - Christian
daily worship service and practical guide.
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html
No comments:
Post a Comment