In recent video I watched a gentleman, addressed an issue, and spoke about God.and asked this question. Where was God when these tragedies happened?  For example, the earthquake in Japan took the lives of many 15,894 or the tornadoes that ravage many towns, villages, and counties throughout the southern states. Hurricanes all along the East Coast where massive power outage were down for weeks many homes were levelled. The wildfire in Colorado that devastated 125-square forests in the southern part of Colorado. In which it lasted over two weeks. While elderly person was driving along Center Road in Waterdown, Ontario in a violent storm with high winds, and it was raining like cats and dogs. A huge tree fell and landed on the person car and killed him instantly. A deadly shooting in an Aurora, Colorado in movie theater James Eagan Holmes murdered twelve people and injuring seventy others. Or Newtown, Connecticut shooting where twenty-six adult and children were slaughter In cold blood at Newtown’s Sandy Hook Elementary School by 20 year old male.

Skeptics throughout the century have asked the same old question where is God in these tragedies and why does He allow these disasters to happen?  To me, a better question would be what’s worse sin or these tragic events? What does Jesus say about these tragedies? What has God done about the sin issue?  What is worse tragedies or sins? I will show you in Scripture and history. That sin far worse than all the tragedies that occur throughout history. Such as massive shootings and, horrible wars that took many innocent lives.  I will show there was a God man who knew no sin and committed no sin died on the cross so that those believe in Him will have eternal life with Him. Another question to consider is earth our permanent dwelling place? Or should we store our treasures in heaven? Instead here on earth. If those believe in Jesus Christ in His atoning works!  Will live in heaven with Him among those believe in His atoning works.

 Jesus declares these words concerning Galileans, and the tower in Siloam found in Luke 13; 1-5. Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galilean whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.  Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the others Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 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?  I tell you, no!But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”  Luke 13; 1- 5 

 

Personal View

Note in verse two of the thirteenth chapter of Luke, verse 2 were Galileans blood was mixed with the sacrifice. Were they worse of because when they suffered in this manner? According to Jesus, He said no! Verse three Jesus stated there are worst things in life and than tragedies. Jesus was addressing sin issue and to those who are alive must repent of their sins. If not, they also will perish and suffer a worse fate than the Galileans and eighteen people who died in Siloam. Verse four addresses the eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam fell upon them? Were they more guilty than those living in Jerusalem? Again He said no! Again, He was addressing sin and how to deal with sin. Not being forgiven by God is the worst outcome, then the tragedies the Galileans endured and the eighteen people who perished when the Siloam Tower fell upon them. Even than God is still sovereign even under these tragic circumstances .

Paul J. Bucknell in an article called, Explaining Hurricanes and Other Natural Disasters from Jesus’ Perspective wrote, “When something bad happens to another person, it is easy to conclude that they are worse people than ourselves. Maybe we think, “They must be evil; they deserve it.”  Furthermore he wrote,” Western world cynically states that if God is loving, then He would not allow such things to happen. Or those who suffered by those calamities were worse than ourselves. They tend to think of themselves as an elitist group who are much better than the others.” Both are wrong sin is the cause and effect of mankind suffering. 

Both Adam and Eve fell into sin, and mankind followed in their footsteps found in Genesis 3; 6-7, 18- 19 God told Adam on the day you eat forbidden fruit you will die found in Genesis 2; 16- 17. 

Lee Strobel a Christian Apologist wrote, “Unlike some other religious leaders who wrote off pain and suffering as just being illusions, Jesus was honest. He told us the truth. He said in “You will have suffering in this world.” He didn’t say you might he said it is going to happen.”  

Paul J. Bucknell wrote, “Jesus interestingly did not question whether the people in those two cases deserved judgment. They perished because they were sinners. God told man that he would die because of his sin.” Furthermore he wrote, “ We need to think rightly of the judgment of mankind. All of us deserve to die now, or even yesterday. No one deserves an extra day to live. The penalty of sin is death. Death is not only appropriate but demanded for sinners. Since we have all sinned, no one is an exception to this rule.” In addition he wrote, “It is horrible to see the homes and families that were destroyed, whether they be rich or poor, white, or black. The point is that they all share one common element: they were all sinners and deserved to die. Instead of thinking that no one deserves to die, we should think God’s perspective: we all deserve to die. In conclusion he wrote, “ The sentence is only delayed and this in and of itself is mercy.” Essentially he was saying what Jesus to those who tragically died in hurricanes, wild fires, and mass shooting. If any these people were born again Christian, and believed in Christ who took their sins, and replace with His righteousness are better off than those who rejected the gospel.

Instead asking where God was when calamities kill thousands upon thousands of people. The better questions who created, the winds, the rains, and the storm? Can they be benefits to mankind or cause great harm or both? For example, the sun can be used for both heat and lit yet it still the sun. It helps the plant grow so can eat and enjoy the plants yet can yet it creates a desert waste land as well yet still the sun. It can produce lovely panorama view in sky to be enjoyed by all, yet if you were stuck in middle of the desert, it would kill you yet it still the sun. You can enjoy the sun from a far yet if went to close it would kill you instantly yet it still the sun. Remember a hurricane is just heavy rains and a powerful wind. The rain, the sun, and the wind play an essential part in the environment such as the rain and the sun, help the plants life grow. The wind circulated the air so the ecosystem will not be stagnate prevent diseases.    

 

Let us consider the life and times of our Jesus Christ while here on earth. He was born in cave, and His feeding trough was a cradle surround by animal because there was no room in the inn. 

When He young boy He fled to Egypt with His parent because a powerful king wanted Him dead because He thought He was going to a king and threat to his kingdom.

 When was thirty-year old just after He was baptizes he was tempted three times by Satan himself after forty days of fasting? 

The town where dwelt most His life as a carpenter like His father? When He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and read the following The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, uttered the following.  This Scripture has been fulfilled and gave the scroll back to the attendant, and sat down. Claiming that He is the messiah!  

When the town people heard this, the town people were enraged and drove Him out of town, and brought Him to the edge of the hill of the town ond, intending to hurl Him over ca Mt Kedumim (397M), 1,302.16 feet overlooking the Yizrael Valley. But, He passed right through the crowd and continued His way.

 He was called Beelzebub, and throughout His ministry he was threatened and misinterpret and the Jewish leader wanted Him dead. His two friends denied and betrayed Him. When He needed His friends the most when going through severest tribulation they deserted Him

 When He was at a legal proceeding a guard struck Him, along with the chief priest blindfold Him became to beat Him ask Him prophesy who hit Him!  While facing Pilate He was whipped and the solder mocked Him they spat on Him, and kept hitting Him on the head. While on the cross the crowd, the Jewish leader, and two thieves sneered and mock Him. When all of mankind sins fell upon Him, His Father forsook Him. By the world standard He was treated unfairly, and the fault finder would have asked where was God in all this? Yet in God standard this was the beginning of the salvation plan in which it benefited mankind where bridged the gap between mankind and God.   

 What are the benefits of disaster or calamities Paul J. Bucknell wrote, “Disasters have a way of shaking people’s lives so that they actually turn to the Lord. The death of some becomes a means to alert others of coming judgment. Disasters have a way of shaking people’s lives so that they actually turn to the Lord. The death of some becomes a means to alert others of coming judgment. Repentance leads to eternal life with Christ, and they’re not being judged by God. For example, when my brother Maynard died in 1975 at the age twenty-eight because of an accident. Over period of nine months, I went from being an atheist to a follower of Christ. This tragedy was a means of leading me Christ, and oldest brother became a pastor instead being a lawyer. Maynard is better off because he believes in Jesus. While I was searching for God I found out he was seeking God as well, and believe he found him. Even thou his life came to tragic end at the age of twenty-eight by the world standards, and he was too young to die. Yet in God standard he is now with the saints because he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and now enjoys all the benefits that an adopted son, because of Christ atoning works

To those who continue to deny God ’s mercifulness and compassion. In which He offered His one and only Son as a propitiation for mankind sins. Will one day face Jesus and will display their sins and will legitimately judge them for theirs sins? Either you bow the knee while here on earth and confess your sins, repent them, and believe in Christ atoning works God will have mercy instead of judging you accordingly to theirs sins, “ As scripture declares, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” In short, God is still sovereign !!    

 http://foundationsforfreedom.net/References/NT/Gospels/Luke/Luke13/Luke13.1-5_Disasters.html