Tsunami

The horrible events in the Indonesian region brought to my mind a worldview that I feel is essential for the world we live in. The earthquake and resulting Tsunami has caused such lost of life and devastation that a myriad of emotions are instantly stirred in any caring individual. It's those emotions that can reveal and drive ones worldview to conclusions that are harsh or unhelpful at best.

Here are two such reactions I heard:

• Is this judgment from God because Indonesia is a Muslim nation?
• The U.S. is being stingy in its giving to those in need.

With this said, after I got my emotions under control, a phrase I like came to mind; we must "anticipate, the forecast calls for rain". In other words, strife heartache, disappointment and yes, death will enter each life. To be more precise, in some form, every life.

After all the evaluation is done, the early warning systems are in place. After the mourning is over for these precious ones who lost their lives in this particular tragedy; we must still face the reality and learn to "anticipate the rain". This does not mean that we mourn in vain. Mourning is natural and needed. Every life is precious and will be sorely missed.

On the spiritual side of things; no earthly preparation (i.e. warning system) will do. We all have a date with destiny. Being spiritually prepared for any circumstance brings about freedom from our emotions and fears.

A television segment struggled to answer this question: What do we tell our children when they ask the ultimate question, why? Several vague answers were posed to include: these things happened, we can't predict what mother nature will do etc.

I'm of the opinion that we "live in sin cursed world" just as scripture reveals. These events will continue to become more frequent as time goes on.

And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. Mark 13:7-8

This opens up another whole argument: Evolution says we are getting better, Creation says we are degrading. Time will tell.

Because we have a limited amount of time, I choose Creation and the uncaused, first cause, God. He is in control through it all. What we fail to see is; if not for His mercy and grace this planet would have been ravished long ago.

Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve.

This period of grace is allowing us time to turn to Him. Grace is God giving us far more than we deserve. The more being the ability to spend eternity in His presence by trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. His death, burial and resurrection is God's love for us in action. Repenting and receiving forgiveness of sins past, present and future provides the rainbow before the rain.

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