WHEN DISASTER STRIKES
HURRICANES
FLOODS
EARTHQUAKES
FAMINE
WARS
ILLNESS AND DISEASE
"Why would a merciful God allow these disasters to happen?"
God is not Superman.
He does not fly from one disaster to another putting right the results of earthquakes, floods or famines.
Can He do these things if He wanted to? The answer is YES. Then; "Why would a merciful God allow these disasters?"
In reality, God has two choices:
He does not fly from one disaster to another putting right the results of earthquakes, floods or famines.
Can He do these things if He wanted to? The answer is YES. Then; "Why would a merciful God allow these disasters?"
In reality, God has two choices:
To interfere every time something goes
wrong and put it right. Whether it is a disaster, an illness, or someone
evil does something wrong like murder, robbery or whatever.
Or, in His
wisdom and generosity, He could allow us the full freedom to do and think
what we want. Even to the point of not believing in His existence if
this is what we want to do.
When He created us, because He loves us, He gave us the full freedom to do as we wish. He has not washed His hands of us though and left us to our own devices. He does listen to our prayers, and often, He does respond.
When people ask, "Why does He allow bad things to happen?" There are two answers to this:
1 Why do WE allow bad things to happen all around us and do nothing about it?
2 He allows bad things to happen to give us the opportunity to love one another.
When He created us, because He loves us, He gave us the full freedom to do as we wish. He has not washed His hands of us though and left us to our own devices. He does listen to our prayers, and often, He does respond.
When people ask, "Why does He allow bad things to happen?" There are two answers to this:
1 Why do WE allow bad things to happen all around us and do nothing about it?
2 He allows bad things to happen to give us the opportunity to love one another.
Bingo. Well-said. We're very far from helpless pawns.
ReplyDeleteAnd we still have the job outlined in Genesis 2:15. It's a lot harder than it might have been, since we got off to a bad start.
But we're still "little less than a god," as Psalms 8:6 puts it. We *can* do better, helping each other and making the rough patches a whole lot easier to manage. The trick, I think, is remembering that we can - and that we should.
Thanks for posting this. With Irma in progress, we're getting another opportunity to remember.
Thank you Brian.
DeleteOften, when things go wrong, people are quick to blame God for it.
God bless you and yours.
We search with greater fervor for God when the world is falling in around our ears. I have heard this video several times and love it each and every time. New Orleans is in my home state of Louisiana--MANY gifted street musicians live there.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Sadly, you are right Lulu. Many people turn to God only when things go wrong.
DeleteGod bless.