America Under Attack
In Times of Crisis
With the recent terrorist attack, there will
be many who will look to the heavens and ask why. Some will cry out in great
anger and bitterness, "How could God let this happen?" and "Why didn't He
stop it?". Some will have their faith shattered. And some will use this
experience, tragic as it is, to change their lives for the better, thereby
strengthening their faith in God and renewing their hope. It is the latter
I wish to discuss.
Let me tell you up front that God has never
and will never "cause" us to suffer. But He does "allow" things to happen.
I realize this sounds horribly unjust, but God in his mercy, gave all His
children the right to choose. This means He loves us enough to never force
His will upon us. So just as the sun shines on both the just and unjust,
so is given to all the gift of choice. It is when the wicked abuse this gift
that there is trouble. The persons responsible for the attack made their
own choices, and as always when man makes bad or wicked decisions, the innocent
suffer. And as always, the anguish of the victims will be felt for generations
to come.
So why didn't God stop this horrendous act?
If He is so powerful, why didn't He use His mightiness to prevent such a
tragedy?
Because even though our Heavenly Father could
have it all with a mere wave of his hand, He did not. He allowed some of
his precious children to be killed so that the rest of His children may remember
Him. You see, it is human nature to turn to God in times of trouble (Hosea
5:15; II Chronicles 20:9). In His wisdom, God visits us with affliction in
the hope more of his children will return to Him. When a trial befalls us,
it is both a call to the righteous to arise and be strong, and a voice of
warning to the wicked to repent. Jesus Christ taught that affliction and
persecutions arise for the word's sake (Mark 4:7) and he predicted more
tribulation to come in the last days (John 16:33, Mark 13:19). It is sad
that we mortals need something bad to happen to make us stand up and take
notice. And so it is that many of us become followers of the Lord having
received the word in much affliction
(1 Thessalonians 1:6).
"…He that hath ears to hear, let him hear"
(Mark 4:9).
Believe it or not, whatever we (individually
or as a nation) suffer is not in vain. I like the saying that if it doesn't
break you, it will darn well make you stronger. How true this is for those
of us who have had our share of tragedies. We who have overcome are living
proof of the strength that can be gained through times of great struggle.
A diamonds beauty is not discovered until it has gone through the refiners
fire. So it is with God's children, we cannot esteem to be His "jewels" until
we have gone through our own refining process.
Have you ever watched a friend or relative go
through a horrific time only to emerge with a smile, a greater love for life,
and a peace about them that astounds you? These are they who have placed
their lives and their burdens in the Lord's hands. They have stared adversity
in the face and refused to let it beat them. These are they who stand at
deaths door and are not afraid. They are a shining example of Paul's words
in II Corinthians 4:6-9:
"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed;
we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast
down, but not destroyed". |
