Simple Church Serious Faith
Where Was God on 911
09/10/11
Recently I was asked the question, “Where was God on 911 or for that matter at any of the other natural disasters?” This is my fairly long answer.
First Premise: God is love in the deepest sense of His essence.
1John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
Second Premise: God desires the best for us.
Jer. 29:10 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
James 1:16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Third Premise: Satan has power on the earth to cause great destruction.
He is a liar, a destroyer. He hates all especially those who follow Jesus.
Bad people do bad things and evil comes from Satan.
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Devil causes suffering
Rev. 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Rev. 12:13 When the dragon (Satan) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman (Jews) who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (Christians)
Satan has power over armies and weather to destroy and kill. (Job 1:13-19).
Contrast: Jesus loves and protects and Satan does the opposite.
John 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Fourth Premise: This is the season of choice and not paradise.
We are not in heaven yet, but a fallen world where evil is in abundance. God created Adam and Eve in his image, perfect with no evil. They sinned bringing suffering into the world and upon all the following generations. We are currently in the season of choice between choosing good and evil. Therefore everything is hard and the good suffer because evil is present. It will continue until Christ returns and removes all evil and confines it to hell and takes all who are righteous, in Him, and take them to paradise.
Rom. 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Luke 13:1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Fifth Premise: Suffering is not a bad thing.
Suffering develops the best we have in us. It makes us tough in all four areas of our being – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Suffering increases faith and humility at the same time, that is a hard combination to achieve. Usually those who have great faith become proud. The greatest men Moses, David and Daniel were great men of faith and humility. They suffered significantly in the process to greatness.
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Heb. 12:5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Heb. 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
The mind is great at working out answers to questions that we ask. If we ask good questions we get good answers. When something bad happens don’t ask questions like why am I so foolish asking questions about the past don’t help very much. Rather ask, “What does this circumstance make possible?”
Sixth Premise: Sometimes suffering is a judgment from God.
Whenever tragedies happen we should ask ourselves, “Is there sin in my life or my country of which I should repent?”
Rev. 9:20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.
Deut. 31:29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made.”
I know considering that God is judging in the midst of a crisis is not popular today, but it is very biblical. Many in our society today think God is here to serve us rather than the other way around.
If I am a Colts fan but I like the Bears uniform better, so therefore I will wear their colors. Do you think the Colts would consider me a fan? Would I be allowed to sit in the bleachers with other Colts fans? If we are followers of the Most High we need to live accordingly. If we are not we cannot expect Him to treat us as being part of His team and grant us favors according to our wishes.
1John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
Second Premise: God desires the best for us.
Jer. 29:10 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
James 1:16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Third Premise: Satan has power on the earth to cause great destruction.
He is a liar, a destroyer. He hates all especially those who follow Jesus.
Bad people do bad things and evil comes from Satan.
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Devil causes suffering
Rev. 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Rev. 12:13 When the dragon (Satan) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman (Jews) who had given birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (Christians)
Satan has power over armies and weather to destroy and kill. (Job 1:13-19).
Contrast: Jesus loves and protects and Satan does the opposite.
John 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Fourth Premise: This is the season of choice and not paradise.
We are not in heaven yet, but a fallen world where evil is in abundance. God created Adam and Eve in his image, perfect with no evil. They sinned bringing suffering into the world and upon all the following generations. We are currently in the season of choice between choosing good and evil. Therefore everything is hard and the good suffer because evil is present. It will continue until Christ returns and removes all evil and confines it to hell and takes all who are righteous, in Him, and take them to paradise.
Rom. 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Luke 13:1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Fifth Premise: Suffering is not a bad thing.
Suffering develops the best we have in us. It makes us tough in all four areas of our being – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
Suffering increases faith and humility at the same time, that is a hard combination to achieve. Usually those who have great faith become proud. The greatest men Moses, David and Daniel were great men of faith and humility. They suffered significantly in the process to greatness.
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Heb. 12:5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Heb. 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
The mind is great at working out answers to questions that we ask. If we ask good questions we get good answers. When something bad happens don’t ask questions like why am I so foolish asking questions about the past don’t help very much. Rather ask, “What does this circumstance make possible?”
Sixth Premise: Sometimes suffering is a judgment from God.
Whenever tragedies happen we should ask ourselves, “Is there sin in my life or my country of which I should repent?”
Rev. 9:20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.
Deut. 31:29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall upon you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD and provoke him to anger by what your hands have made.”
I know considering that God is judging in the midst of a crisis is not popular today, but it is very biblical. Many in our society today think God is here to serve us rather than the other way around.
If I am a Colts fan but I like the Bears uniform better, so therefore I will wear their colors. Do you think the Colts would consider me a fan? Would I be allowed to sit in the bleachers with other Colts fans? If we are followers of the Most High we need to live accordingly. If we are not we cannot expect Him to treat us as being part of His team and grant us favors according to our wishes.
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