by
Jim Taylor
Undoubtedly some will look at all the destruction
and devastation done by this storm and will decide that this was God's judgment.
What else could it be? Casino's and other dens of evil were damaged and
destroyed. A wicked city was brought to it's knees? That has to be
the wrath of God, right? The timing was just too fortuitous. A huge
sodomite convention was to be held in New Orleans and this outpouring of
destruction brought it all to a stop! It must be God.
The insurance industry will be writing off claims
and blaming God for it in years to come. Those who make a living from
prophesying and predicting future events will claim to have known this was
coming (though they failed to cry out loud enough for folks to hear it) and
books and tapes will be sold showing how God had warned them He was sending
judgment.
But what is the truth of this cataclysmic event
that has come to us? Is it really an Act of God or is it just random
weather patterns converging at the wrong time and place for many people?
Is God angry?
Here is a fundamental question that when
answered, will shape how we perceive life and the events that happen. It
will influence how we feel about what happens to us as well as events in the
world. Is God angry? If He is, then we can understand
when wrath flashes out and destroys people, places and things. But is that
the way God really is?
The only true "picture" we have of what
God is like is Jesus Christ. He said, "... Anyone who has seen me
has seen the Father...." John 14:9 (NIV) If we want to know what
God is like we must look at the life of Jesus. He demonstrated God's life
and nature to the world.
What did He do?
- He fed the hungry
- He comforted those who mourned
- He forgave sin
- He healed the sick and diseased
- He delivered people from satan's power
- He made nature calm down. He never made
it go crazy.
- He wept over those who rejected Him, knowing
they would be destroyed by their own choices
- He forgave those who killed Him
Sure he was harsh at times, but only with
hypocrisy, with those who used religion to rob people or for a cover for their
own sin. He never turned away anyone who came to Him in honesty. He
demonstrated that God loves people and that God is not mad at anyone.
Why would God be angry?
Some would say, "Because of all the
wickedness and sin and evil." Look at this verse carefully --- The
next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NIV) Note that Jesus
took "the sin of the world". On Calvary God's anger
against sin was satisfied. Jesus took the SIN OF THE WORLD. My sin.
Your sin. The sin of all those awful people 'out there'. Jesus took
it all.
The righteousness of God's Law that demanded
payment for sin was completed.
The penalty for sin is death. God paid it
Himself. He sent His only Son to be the payment. The debt has been
paid in FULL! You do not have to pay it. In fact, God would rather
that you did not try. He has already taken care of it and His desire is
that you accept what He has done for you.
So, why would God be angry?
He isn't, though He may be saddened at the
prospect of all those who reject His goodness. You see, if you reject
God's way of payment for sin there is no way He can help you. Sin is
infinite and demanded an infinite payment. God provided that Himself when
He sent Jesus to be the Sacrifice. If you try to pay the penalty yourself
it will take infinity .. eternal suffering .. to pay that debt. You won't
be able to do it because you are finite. Only God is infinite and only He
could pay it. So, the truth of the situation is this; God will not punish you.
You are the one who will choose what will happen. There are two doors in
front of you. One is your way. The other is God's Way. If you
choose to go your way you are responsible for the consequences. If you
choose to go God's way He is responsible.
God is not mad at you. He has done
everything He can to take care of the situation. It is now up to us to
accept what He has done in Christ.
Well ... why do bad things like hurricanes
happen?
I don't have all the answers for a question like
that, but we must remember that there are natural laws. Gravity is a
natural law. If you choose not to believe in it and step off a 15-story
building you will pay the consequences, whether you believe in it or not.
Weather patterns, storms and such are part of the natural world. It's the
way the world works. We choose to ignore that truth to our own peril.
I live where bad weather happens from time to
time. If a tornado is heading my way I will pray and ask God to remove it.
I will also find shelter! If I decided to ignore it and a tornado came and
blew me away it would not be God's judgment. It would be my own choice for
ignoring a naturally-occurring weather phenomenon.
I am sorry for those who suffered loss during
Katrina. Some of those people were 'bad' people undoubtedly. And
some of them were 'good' people. These things come to us all, good or bad.
It is up to the rest of us to step up and take care of those who suffering.
It is our responsibility to help in every way we can. I have food, water
and shelter. How can I not help? As for placing blame, leave that to
those who are petty and narrow-minded and who need to justify their own
existence. For those who are human, it's enough to know that there is a
disaster, and that we as people can help. Little or much, whatever you
give will help.
But don't blame God for it. In fact, it is not
helpful to look for anyone to blame for it. Think about this, if this were God's
judgment He would not be fair unless He also poured it out on you and I and our
towns and cities. Or on the rest of the Nation for that matter.
God's judgment was poured out on Jesus Christ
when He died in my place. In your place.
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, now is the
time to show His love and compassion for those who are going through such a
horrific ordeal. Get involved if you are not already.
