Text: Luke 13:1-5
When disasters occur (terrorist attacks, hurricanes, earthquakes, accidents etc.), people often wonder if/how God was involved, and if these events occurred as a sort of divine judgment against the victims/nation. It is important that we know why these events happen & what these events can teach us.
Why These Things Happen
- Divine act of judgment — Bible examples (flood, Sodom, ten plagues, captivities, etc.); each was announced beforehand by God (Genesis 6:13; 18:17-21; Exodus 3:19-20; Hosea 8:8-10; Jeremiah 25:8-11); no such prophecy exists today, so we must be wary of attributing such things to God (1 Peter 4:11)
- Actions of evil men — there will always be wicked people who cause suffering for others; government was ordained to deal with this (Romans 13:4); but sometimes the government is the force behind the evil (Revelation 17:5-6; Luke 13:1)
- Happenstance — time & chance affect us all (Ecclesiastes 9:11); people want to believe that all things happen for a reason, but this is just not the case (Luke 13:4)
- Consequences of foolish or sinful behavior — our choices/actions impact our lives, positively or negatively; choices/actions of others can also affect us as well (ex: poor construction (Luke 13:4), inattentive drivers, etc.)
What These Events Teach Us
- Life is uncertain — our lives are but a vapor (James 4:13-16); therefore, we must set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2)
- Obedience to God is a priority — with these disasters in mind, Jesus told them to repent (Luke 13:3,5); obedience is not an option (John 14:15; Hebrews 5:9)
- God will ultimately judge us — all unrepentant sinners will suffer the same fate (Romans 6:23); we must prepare for our appointment before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Read the article: When Disaster Strikes
