My job as a pastor of a Baptist Church has been more challenging than usual in the last few weeks. "If there is a God, why does he allow this to happen?". "If God, is a god of love, why cause so much devastation and suffering?" "You cannot tell me there is a God when you look at what has happened in the Asian Earthquake/Tsunami disaster!".
These are just some of the comments we face after that dreadful event, and we have all been affected emotionally with the images from the media, and perhaps even speaking to someone who has lost a loved one in the area. I have a problem in grasping the ernormity of the devastation and loss of life. I just cannot comprehend what it must be like there.
But down to the questions. Why does God allow this to happen? After all, he is the Creator of all things, did he make a mistake in the design?
Our planet is home to a great diversity in landscape, flora and fauna and it is this diversity that provides it with so much richness of life. Tectonic plates are part of the created clockwork that produces our landscape with mountains ranges, volcanoes, and such, and it is these things that make the scenery breathtaking. Over the many thousands and millions of years they have shaped our planet to what it is today.
We have known the relationship between earthquake and tsunamis for a long time now. The US have had their Pacific warning system for over 50 years now! So why hadn't a similar system been installed in the Indian Ocean where there has been a history of earthquakes and tsunamis? Is this God's fault? He has given us the knowledge and technology, we have failed to consider others in danger and not acted.
Does God like to see suffering? No, he is a God of love and hates to see suffering of any kind. However, it is because he is a God of love that he has given humankind freewill. We all have it with regard our personal faith and beliefs. We can choose whether to believe in God or not. He does not force us to follow him. So what has this got to do with this disaster?
We live in a fallen world, and bad things have been happening on this planet since Adam and Eve went against God in the Garden of Eden. God's perfect planet was destroyed by humankind going against him. Ever since, we have struggled to produce crops and tame nature in our effort to become like God. God promises a new heaven and new earth where we will not see famine, flood, earthquake, disease, but we have to wait for now!
But God is at work in Asia right now. Each day we have heard of miracles on how individuals have survived, and I am sure God is working these. I am also sure that this single biggest disaster has been the turning point in many relationships. We are seeing countries from around the world pulling together to provide relief to the victims. We are seeing Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhists, Sikhs and other faiths all working together as one to help. We are seeing Tamil Tigers providing food and water to their enemies, etc.
I do not understand why this has happened, but I know that God is working through this in many ways. I continue to pray each day that he will work miracles and continue to rescue victims from this tragedy. The healing process will take many years, and the scars will remain forever, but God loves to heal. He will be watching over the people of this tragedy and will be responding to their prayers.
I also continue to pray that God will prompt me to respond to this in whatever way he wills. Whether it is financially or practically, I will do what little I can. If everyone who reads this blog takes time to do the same, the drop in the ocean will become larger and larger until it makes a difference in Asia.
God bless!
Pete
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