INTRODUCTION: Much of the news in recent days has been about the earthquake and tsunami that hit Indonesia and other countries in that part of the world. Please pray that God would use this tragedy for opportunities to take to hope of the gospel to these people. We thank the Lord for the financial help that is being sent to these people. However, we must always remember that their first need is to know Jesus Christ as Saviour.
Some skeptics have used this tragedy in Asia as proof that God does not exist or that perhaps He is not good. I find it interesting that they have no use for him when their lives are going well, but want to blame Him for the problems when things turn to the worse. Whatever the answer, we must realize that God allowed this catastrophe to occur. He could have stopped it and did not. Why did God allow this to happen? What are the lessons that we can learn from this tragedy?
- THE INCOMPREHENSIBILITY OF GOD
- Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
- Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- THE POWER OF GOD
- Psalm 93:3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
- Psalm 93:4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
- THE FRAILTY OF MAN
- 1 Samuel 20:3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
- THE TRAVAIL OF CREATION
- Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
- Romans 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
- Romans 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
- Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
- THE HOLINESS OF GOD
- 1 Samuel 6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.
- 1 Samuel 6:20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
- THE REALITY OF JUDGMENT
- Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
- Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
- Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
- Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
- Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
- THE URGENCY OF THE GOSPEL
- 1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
