Natural Disasters or Acts of God

Q: Why are there earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, droughts and tornadoes?
A: Because all of creation is fallen!

Man is quick to justify natural disasters as either a part of the natural order of the world (perhaps an atheists' or naturalists' point of view) or an 'Act of God' (perhaps as divine punishment on some act of man). Alas, both points of view begin with a faulty view of creation because creation  is fallen along with humanity. Once we understand the curse placed on creation after the Fall, then we can understand that violent tempests are a part of the natural order of the world created by God!

Our world was supposed to be perfect, a paradise in fact! Man and woman could enjoy it along with the animals. Free food was everywhere. But man decided to live in the world without God. That is, he wanted to be like God himself. And this was foolishness. So God put man and woman out of the Garden. The ground was cursed. (Gn. 3:17) After Adam and Eve's disobedience, creation could no longer be the perfect gift it was meant to be. Imagine a teenager who is given a car for his sixteenth birthday. He is given a gift but his parents tell him with the gift is responsibilities. He can’t drive fast. He can only use the car to get back and forth to school, etc. But he disobeys his parents. He crashes the car because he wanted to do with it as he wished.  The car will never be the same nor will the teenager.  And thus we inherited the misuse of God’s creation. It is not the same anymore after our first parents disobeyed God. In fact, like the wrecked car, it reminds us of our need to always listen to God.

The tempests in our world remind us to look to Jesus and his salvation. Peter sank in the sea when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at himself. (Mt. 14:28-30) The disciples were anxious because they did not know Christ was the Lord of Creation. (Mt. 8:23-27) Do natural disasters cause death. Yes, they do. But remember, the Christian has no fear of death as we have a dwelling place secured for us. In fact, it is not our place to justify why storms happen, but rather, see them as a sign that life is short and repentance is the gateway to salvation.  (Lk 13:1-9)

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:1-5)

Karma

Karma, noun - action seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a next life. -Dictionary.com

Karma finds its roots in the near eastern religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. Many New Age philosophies borrow from eastern practices. But all too often, I have heard people give credit to ‘karma’ who themselves claim to be Christian. There are two reasons for this and both expose a lack of faith in the God of our forefathers.

The first reason is that many people believe they can influence the universe. After all there are laws of physics that state for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. This then translates into “if I do something it will cause an equally important reaction in my life.”  “If I give money, then I will receive money. “ Or “my car broke down because I had mean thoughts about my boss.” Note well how prominent the pronoun ‘I’ is. The center of the universe for the karma believing person is the person, not God.

The second reason that people believe in karma is the desire that our works should be rewarded. If I do good, I should get a reward in this world and the next. If my good works are greater than my bad works, then it stands to reason, that I will be in heaven or have a better life in the next. This faulty belief is truly deadly. If we break just one aspect of the Law of God, we have broken the whole Law. (James 2:10) No amount of good works overcomes our guilt.  Man truly desires to want to earn his way into Heaven. Once again, the emphasis is on man and not on God and His mercy.  The ‘I’ is the center of the universe. The truth is God is at the center and He cannot be manipulated by man. And what often happens to us is not by what we caused in the universe, for we do not govern the universe, but by God’s perfect will for a greater purpose known only to him.

Jeremiah 24 illustrates this. God ordained the King of Babylon to take into exile people from Jerusalem. Jeremiah had a vision of figs, good and bad. The good were the exiles and the bad were those who chose to remain in Jerusalem. Exilic life cannot be ideal by any means but God had a purpose. While in exile they were being prepared by God to reclaim the promise land. So for 70 years, they lived among the heathen as aliens in a strange land. But the bad figs, those who held on to their land, were to be devoured by the sword of Babylon. Exile was not bad karma for the those captured by the King of Babylon. It was a time of preparation in order to return as a people whose hearts had been prepared by God. Sometimes what happens to us that we think is bad, is really God preparing us for a future season. As Jeremiah prophesies:


When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:10-14)

God is in complete control. We are not!

The Christian and Good Works

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)

We are meant to do good. We can do good through Christ who has freed us from sin. This passage from Paul's Letter to the Church in Ephesus tells us who we are, how we came to be and why we do what we do!

We are handcrafted by God. We are His workmanship. Can the pot say to the potter, "Why have you made me like this?" (Rom. 9:19-21) A watchmaker makes a watch to tell time. We are created by the creator to walk in good works.

How often do we question ourselves wondering if we are doing God's will? Perhaps we should ask ourselves if we are doing God's will? Do we care that we are doing God's will? As slaves of righteousness, we will want to do the Master's desires.

And we must be careful of falling into the trap of believing in anything like 'Karma'. We cannot influence the outcome of our days. We read in Scripture, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Prov. 16:9) and "A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?" (Prov. 20:24) God directs our every step for those who are in Christ Jesus! Can we ever stumble? Of course! But God is there to pick us up! "The steps of man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)

When we are in Christ Jesus there are just some things we cannot help not do like meditating on the Law (Psalm 1), reading Scripture (Psalm 119:105), and daily taking up our cross (Lk. 9:23-27).  All of this is because we have the Holy Spirit in us directing our will! (Rom. 8:1-11)

Albeit that Good Works, which are the fruits of Faith, and follow after Justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively Faith insomuch that by them a lively Faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit.  (Article 12, The Articles of Religion, see also Article 13 on Works before Justification)

What Do You Mean Give Thanks in All Circumstances?

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (I Thess. 5:16-18)

This brief sentence from Paul's letter to the young Church in Thessalonica is quite clear on what we should do as Christians, ALWAYS rejoice! Pray WITHOUT CEASING! Give thanks in ALL Circumstances. And why? It is the will of God for YOU! All circumstances means all circumstances even when bad things happen. Always rejoicing means in every circumstance, good and bad, rejoice! What does pray without ceasing mean.? We are to pray 24/7! How can we do this authentically? Once we realize all things are under God's dominion, then we know all things are for our benefit working towards God 's divine purpose.

A lesson can be learned from Joseph, the son of Jacob. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of his brother. He dreamed dreams and had his father’s favor. So they plotted to kill him only to have an opportunity to sell him into slavery and get some cash out of the deal. Joseph was sold again to Potiphar who saw how gifted Joseph was and made him an overseer of his house. Potiphar’s wife saw how handsome he was and wanted to be intimate with him which Joseph refused. This caused her to level false allegations against him and he was jailed! Now while in prison Joseph still interprets the dreams of others. And later when Pharaoh has some disturbing dreams he sends for Joseph who interprets them. Pharaoh, impressed with Joseph’s wisdom sets him over his land. Joseph saves up the grain knowing there is a coming famine.

It was during this famine that Joseph’s brothers sought relief in Egypt. They did not recognize their brother whom they betrayed. After some time of ascertaining that his father was alive, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and invited them to come to Egypt for relief. Now the brothers feared retribution. They went to Joseph admitting their sorrow for what they had done. And this was Joseph’s reply, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Gen. 50:20) In the end, the family of Israel was saved from famine to guarantee His promises.

When we see our lives as the unfolding of God’s plan, then we can rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances. This does mean we deny our pain when we have been hurt by others or don’t grieve over loss and disappointments. As we mature spiritually, we grow to see how our trials are meant for the maturing of our soul! And we see how the circumstances of our life are just a weigh station to our future glory. (I Pt. 3:
8-17)

Is Depression Good for You? - Depression Center - Everyday Health

Is Depression Good for You? - Depression Center - Everyday Health

The above article is worth reading. Working through my depression rather than fighting it was a life changing experience for me. But I give credit to God for my journey. The video below is my testimony!