Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Calamities And Disasters
Bible Questions Answered:
“...doesn't bad weather etc. come to
those who deserve it?...”
Randy/Wenatchee, Washington U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
Luke 13:1-5 ERV
1 Some people
there with Jesus at that time told Him about what had happened to
some worshipers from Galilee. Pilate had them killed. Their blood was
mixed with the blood of the animals they had brought for sacrificing.
2 Jesus
answered, “Do you think this happened to those people because they
were more sinful than all other people from Galilee?
3 No, they were
not. But if you don’t decide now to change your lives, you will all
be destroyed like those people!
4 And what
about those 18 people who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them?
Do you think they were more sinful than everyone else in Jerusalem?
5 They were
not. But I tell you if you don’t decide now to change your lives,
you will all be destroyed too!”
Here we are given two questions presented to Jesus, having to deal
with different calamities.
The first tells of some Galilaeans who Pilate had murdered, their
blood was mixed with the animals blood in the sacrifices they had
made.
We are not told what these Galilaeans had done, nor does Jesus stop
to discuss the direct will of God, versus His permissive will, as far
as their deaths were concerned.
What or who causes disasters, was never discussed with Jesus:
God:
Jonah 1:4 KJV
(John 9:2)
But The Lord
sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in
the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
The Devil:
Matthew 8:23,24
KJV (Job 1:12/2:6; Matthew 14:24)
23 And when He
was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him.
24 And, behold,
there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was
covered with the waves..."
Nature:
Matthew 16:2,3
KJV
2 He answered
and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair
weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the
morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and
lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but
can ye not discern the signs of the times?
What Jesus does address, is the frailty of life, and the danger of
not being prepared for death and its reward!
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this
the judgment:
Luke 13:2,3 KJV
2 Jesus
answered, “Do you think this happened to those people because they
were more sinful than all other people from Galilee?
3 No,
they were not. But if you don’t decide now to change your
lives, you will all be destroyed like those people!
The Galilaeans disaster was not caused by their being more sinful
than others.
The Galilaeans disaster, was not their deaths.....it was their not
being spiritually prepared to meet God!
Luke 13:4,5 ERV
4 And what
about those 18 people who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them?
Do you think they were more sinful than everyone else in Jerusalem?
5 They were
not. But I tell you if you don’t decide now to change your lives,
you will all be destroyed too!”
Apparently the wall of Jerusalem, had a tower, the Tower of Siloam,
and it fell, killing some 18 people.
Was it God, that did it, through His direct will, or His permissive
will? Then again was it the work of the devil, or of nature itself,
its foundation becoming bad?
These two stories show us two things:
1) Disaster, does not mean that the people involved were worse
sinners than all others.
2) Calm (no disaster), does not mean that the people are more
righteous than all others.
Our Lord, does “not,” bother to answer many questions, rather,
much rather His concern is the eternal state of those who died!
Verse 5 “...
if you don’t decide now to change your lives, you will all be
destroyed too!”
The implication here, they had not given their lives over to The
Lord, and so that they met both physical and spiritual destruction.
All kinds of calamities and disasters will come and go, according to
our Lord, our time should not be spent so much on where they come
from, as to what will be their result, eternal judgment and God's
wrath or eternal bliss with The Savior.
This moment is all that we have, choose the Savior, we have no promise of
our next breath!
Proverbs 27:1
KJV
Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may
bring forth.
II Corinthians
6:2 NLT
For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I
helped you.” Indeed,
the “right
time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
Hebrews 4:7 KJV
"...Today
if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.
Revelation 3:20 NLT
Look! I stand
at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will
come in..."
Dear friend, open the door of your heart, now, and invite The Savior
in.
John 3:36 KJV
He that
believeth on The Son hath everlasting Life: and he that believeth not
The Son shall not see Life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.