In January 2010, people from around the world were deployed to provide relief to the citizens and land of Haiti. The tragic effects of a powerful earthquake in that country caused our family to wrestle with unsettling and troubling questions: Why did a mind-staggering tragedy like this happen? If God is strong and powerful and loving, couldn’t He have prevented the devastation in Haiti? Is God punishing the people of Haiti in some way? Are the people in Haiti more unrighteous than people in other countries?
These questions are legitimate, but they inch us away from an appropriate personal response to world tragedy.
Jesus addressed the manner in which His audience should personally respond to world crises (Luke 13). To do this, He chronicled two historical events—revealing that death is indiscriminate and repentance is vital.
In the first event, Pilate had some Galileans killed while they worshiped. The innocents died at the hands of an evil man (Luke 13:1-2). The second event concerned a tower in Siloam that fell and killed 18 people. Those people died in a natural disaster (Luke 13:4).
In light of these two tragic events, Jesus wanted His audience to ask a question of mortality: How close am I to the end of my life? And a question of eternity: What’s my status before God—am I ready to meet Him? Jesus’ instruction was sobering— mortality and eternity are certain, so the people needed to repent or perish spiritually. In light of tragedies taking place around the world, we should take His teaching to heart. World tragedies should cause us to consider our own mortality and eternity, asking: What is my status before God right now? Am I ready to meet God? How am I glorifying Him today?
To neglect these questions could prove tragic for me and you.
More:
• Luke 16:19-31
• 1 John 1:9
Next:
How should we respond to the tragic death of others? If you died today, would you be ready to meet God? For what sin do you need to repent? Why is it vital that we repent of our sin?
lindagma on November 18, 2010 at 6:58 am
It amazes me, even though it shouldn’t, how God brings the right message at the right time. I read 3 devotions each morning (including this one) and all 3 have touched on being ready for eternity today.
The significance of this is… my brother has a lung disease that has been slowlyl killing him for the last 8 yrs…about 15 yrs ago, his beautiful wife, battling depression for most of her life, finally ended it in suicide. Tom prayed and prayed for her healing and after her death, he became bitter with God and decided that God was there but God doesn’t care… you are on your own.
I got an email a few days ago… his time is closing in… could be weeks… maybe more. He has attended to every earthly detail, end of life wishes, where his belongings should go, planned and paid for his funeral.
My task is to gently encourage him to make the most important arrangment…to make his peace with God. I have been hesitating, wanting to say the right words…please pray that God will give me those words that will touch his heart and make it right before he goes to eternity
marvin williams on November 18, 2010 at 9:10 am
Linda, I will be praying for you as you have that most important conversation with your brother. Thank you for sharing this with the ODJ community. Father, please give Linda wisdom and boldness as she talks about mortality and eternity with her brother. May your Spirit empower her with gentleness yet urgency. Prepare her brother’s heart to hear and respond to your word. Thank you that you hear us.
lnbailey on November 18, 2010 at 10:19 am
Lindagma
I will be in prayer for you along with my sister and brothers in Christ Jesus. May the Lord grant you wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in regards to your brother.
Love and Blessings
RLDW33 on November 18, 2010 at 7:54 am
lindagma
We pray that God will provide you the right words to share with your brother, and that he will find peace and comfort in knowing Christ is with us even in suffering and as he said will never leave us or forsake us.
Blessings
daisymarygoldr on November 18, 2010 at 8:16 am
Good questions and absolutely apt — that cause me to pause and consider my own mortality and eternity, while it is still today!
Lindagma, you are in my prayers and so is your brother…
marvin williams on November 18, 2010 at 9:11 am
Daisy, me too. Let’s live life to the fullest and let’s take a lot people to heaven with us as we do.
dja on November 18, 2010 at 8:50 am
Lindagma,
I understand how your heart hurts for your brother, and how hard it is to know the right words. But the Lord has the right words and the right timing for you. I pray that you will have a peace within as you seek to give Tom the words he needs to hear.
I am praying for you and for Tom.
dr.lightsey on November 18, 2010 at 11:59 am
Lindagma,
My prayer is that God will lead and guide you in what to say to your brother and at the appropriate time. I am also praying that your brother will be receptive to what you share. Remember, the effectual and fervent prayers of the righteous avail much!
bails on November 18, 2010 at 5:30 pm
lindagma,
I’ve read ODJ for over a year now, always wondering when the day would come i’d join and leave a comment and for some reason your post and need hit me today. So here I am, a woman who lost my loving father to suicide at 25 and have spent the last few years trying to rebuild. The word suicide still makes me sick when i say it, hear it or write it. Us survivors have to endure a pain deeper than anything I know is humanely possible to bear. It’s such a massive hurt that you believe the only one that could have allowed all this to happen was our almighty God. So we blame him, because it’s too much for our shoulders, the facts are more than we can handle. And it’s true
Then we go thru this ordeal, days turn into months, months into years and years into a life without God and we’re left with an emptyness whether we like to admit it or not. We’re empty because we’re not meant to be without God, no matter how much we push him away…he still lingers, he still watches over and he’s still there otherwise we wouldn’t have to continually make the effort to push him away.
Every time we push, it means he’s still working and he’s still with your brother no matter what the facts of life have led him to believe…I was once there too, and now I’m in a closer relationship with God than before. It’s possible when the heart is locked, it’s possible when there is little time life and it is possible most when there are people that love you who tell you God loves you too – and that he always has.
The greatest thing I ever did for myself was repeat outloud certain pslams inserting my own life and details into them…peace after heartache is often found by voicing our hurts, our disappoints, our frustruations and our pleas to God – he wants us to communicate so that we can feel his presence.
The strongest of prayers will be said for you and your brother, my family and I are thinking of you and asking God to work his sweet miracles.
kinro1013 on November 19, 2010 at 11:01 am
Hi Linda,
My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will go ahead of you before speaking with your brother. Trust in Him to be your mouthpiece. God’s Word does not return to Him void. Remind your brother that God does not want us to lean to our own understanding. His ways are not our ways. We just have to trust Him in all things. My prayers are with you.