ABC's of Salvation
September 4, 2005am
and shared at West Golden Wesleyan Church on September 25, 2005am
WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES
Luke 13:1-5
Hurricane Rita struck the Texas-Louisiana border Friday night with devastating consequences. Her winds ravaged homes, buildings and trees. Her sea waves pounded an already water soaked shoreline. Her flood waters finished off what her winds started.
A few weeks ago we were asking, Why didn’t God prevent the Hurricane Katrina from veering into the Louisiana neighborhood? And today we are asking the same question.
Suffering is the song that never ends in our world. We find loved ones suffering. We meet long lost friends who are suffering. We get the phone call telling us the suffering of someone in the family.
It seems hardly yesterday but in reality it was almost seven years ago to today that my friend Jack and I scouted deer country. He knew everything there was to know about setting up blinds in the right place. And after a few hours of trudging around some property he showed me the tree to put my stand. Less than a week later I shot a nine point buck with my old bow and arrow. I was excited and he was thrilled to hear the news.
Jack was more than a friend and roofing partner. He was kids’ school teacher at our other church. He was a family man who loved Jesus with all his heart. I can say honestly I have known no other man who was so intense about serving God. Money, cars and all of that mattered nothing to him.
Since then, Jack was diagnosed with cancer. He went through the treatment process. And he died three years ago. A family man and man of God brought down by the senselessness of a fallen world.
Jesus takes on the challenge of human suffering. Two circumstances are brought up. The first is man-made: the murder of Galileans who were offering sacrifices in the temple. These men were killed by the Pontius Pilate. The other is a natural disaster: the collapse of a tower that killed twelve people.
Notice a few things about what Jesus says or doesn’t say in his response.
First, He does not try to explain or excuse God. Secondly, He does not condemn Pilate and his actions. But even more amazingly, thirdly, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter: there is a greater judgment to be feared. Twice he says: “Unless you repent, you too will all perish!”
Jesus sees disasters, whether they are man-made or natural, as warnings of future judgment. “Unless you repent, you too will all perish!”
Any tragedy is terrible but it seems that these recent natural disasters have really hit home to Americans. And it should always hit Christians right into the heart because it is the heart of who we are in Christ Jesus that matters most.
The fact still remains that we are called by God to do something for the least of these among us. For in so doing we do for Christ as we do for others.
And if there is a message that should be heard loud and clear it is this very message. Forget the valuables lost, the homes destroyed and the families separated. As tragic as this is, what profits a man if he gains the whole world and yet loses his own soul?
Hear the echo of Jesus words down through the centuries: “Unless you repent, you too will perish!”
This is not a veiled threat of natural disaster against you but a warning that we must heed the call to salvation while there still is time. Those of you hearing my voice right now must make a decision: either trust Christ for salvation or perish.
We ask this morning: What good can come of this terrible human tragedy in America?
We are frustrated when tragedy strikes because we believe in an ordered existence. We want orderliness and routine in our life. Even the most unorganized people have routines. But when this is upset by circumstances beyond our control it causes serious problems.
We know that tragedy upsets what we believe to be orderly. Consider the unexpected death of a loved one. Suddenly your whole life is turned upside down and inside out. But these instances are contained to certain localities. Very rarely does an individual’s death disrupt a whole country. Make no mistake: These hurricanes will- if it hasn’t already- effect everyone.
Perhaps the greatest truth we can glean from this problem is the very fact that no one is exempt from human suffering. As difficult as it seems for those of us who name Jesus as Savior, we are not exempt from suffering. Plenty of Bible believing Christians lost their homes, their possessions and even their lives in these storms. And there may likely be more. The Wesleyan Church in New Orleans suffered extensive flooding damage. Many other churches have been destroyed. Can we say that Christians are exempt from human suffering? Of course not.
So how do we respond to the circumstances that we see now and maybe some of us will have to face in the future? I want to give you three points that I hope will help you in spite of the storm either swirling around your life right now or the impending storm coming your way.
1. Expect the Unexpected.
No one is ready and prepared for the unexpected. Otherwise it would not be “unexpected.” But we can prepare ourselves as Christians to live above despair in spite of the circumstances.
Consider this story I found in the July/August 1996 Moody Magazine article:
The headaches grew more severe with each day until Maggie and Ken took their young son, Tim, to the doctor. They were committed believers in Christ but yet they waited anxiously following a variety of tests.
Their apprehension mounted as the doctor came through the door with a troubled look. “I’ve shown these tests to colleagues,” he began, “and we concur that Timmy has in-operable cancer on the brain. He has only a few days to live.”
Maggie and Ken were devastated. They asked a few questions to confirm the diagnosis but all they could think of was their son, barely beginning his life. They both prayed silently to God for strength. The perplexity of why this was happening did not at first. They were too numb.
“Few of us are prepared for tragedy when it strikes,” writes Professor William H. Baker of Moody Bible Institute about this situation. “We seem to regard it as something that happens to others, not us. But we can do something now to be better prepared when the crisis comes.”
This why faith is so important. Not simply a faith in fate that so many – and even professing Christians succumb to- but a simple child-like trust that God is there no matter what.
Maggie was angry. Angry because there seemed to be no purpose in her young son dying. Angry because they did not deserve this. She asked her pastor, “Does Timmy deserve to have his life snatched away from him like this?”
Her pastor was wise in the faith. His reply was as ours should be to tragic circumstances: “I’m crushed by this… I don’t know why this happened, but I do believe that in time it may become more clear that God makes no mistakes.”
And we can be comforted that despite what comes our way, God makes no mistakes. We don’t know why this hurricane did what it did and why so many people lost their lives. But we do know that God makes no mistakes. So if we want to blame God I suppose we could go ahead and do that; He’s big enough to take it. But realize that He makes no mistakes.
And whether you suffer in earthquakes in California, hurricanes in the Southeast, wildfires in the West, tornadoes in the Midwest, floods in the hill valleys, snow storms in the Great Lakes, or quietly suffer within the four walls of your home, God makes no mistakes. God knows who you are and what you are going through and, what is more, I guarantee that He is not silent.
At young Timmy’s funeral it was Ken and Maggie who comforted others who could not understand. They were the ones who held others and assured them of their dead son’s presence with the Lord.
Realize this, though. God is with you throughout your suffering. But realize something else: That in the midst of any suffering there is someone else skirting the edges. There is…
2. An Adversary in Adversity.
We all saw and heard of the lawlessness in downtown New Orleans. People being murdered, raped, robbed and terrorized by ruthless thugs who were hell-bent. People in the midst of suffering the loss of homes and family members certainly did not need this added misery to what they were already facing. And even after Rita passed through Beaumont, Texas, police reported vandalism and looting by those who were going to take advantage of someone else’s misery.
What I am reminded of is the very fact of Satan’s work in our time of suffering. The forces of evil are against us. Remember: our struggle is not with flesh and blood but against the powers and forces of the dark world. And when you look death in the face, the devil is nearby ready to dance on your grave.
Remember that Old Testament Bible character named Job? Job faced the same adversary we face today. However, we know that whatever Satan did to Job was only because God- in His infinite wisdom and love for him- allowed the devil to do. Job lost his home, his property, his riches and his family. And then through the use of three good friends and his wife, the devil then tortured Job by questioning God and his faith in God. Even to the point of Job questioning God himself.
But what we see in Job’s life is a truly sanctifying experience taking place. In the end, Job is blessed with family and riches beyond compare. But more importantly, Job receives a spiritual blessing that is only eternal.
Despite what the devil may throw your way, you as a believer in Jesus Christ, don’t have to listen to the adversary. You have an advocate through Jesus Christ your Savior. In spite of the devil’s schemes to defeat your faith in God, you can be assured of something nothing in this world can give you: eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And you cannot be snatched out of the Father’s hand.
What is more, the devil cannot touch you without God’s permission. So whatever you go through- unless you place yourself there through willful disobedience- you can be assured of the Holy Spirit’s ever-living power in your life.
Despite the enemy’s attacks and despite the tragedy any of us might unexpectedly face we can know with a calm assurance that we have…
3. Christ in the Crisis.
Everyone will face a crisis in their lifetime. This crisis will be financial, emotional, physical, relational or spiritual. Somewhere you will have to deal with a Hurricane Katrina or Rita bearing down on you.
“But I am here to tell you that you can be in the eye of the storm with all kinds of calamity swirling around you and have the peace that passes all understanding.” You may not know where the next dollar is going to come from or where you are going to go from here, but you can know that Christ is with you in the crisis.
In the book of Daniel there is an old story of bravery and courage. Three young Hebrew men were threatened with death if they did not bow down to the idol that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They ignored the king’s edict and faced certain death in a fiery furnace. But as the flames grew hotter there was a presence that even the heathen king saw. The Son of God was standing with them.
Let me ask you this: Is Christ standing with you in your crisis? I believe He is. David Wilkerson, the founder of Teen Challenge, gave these three notable commitments of the Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that are worth remembering.
First: They committed themselves to a holy lifestyle.
So often we can find ourselves striving to re-commit our selves and to live a holier life when things look bleak. It seems easy enough to do things our way and in our own power until crisis hits. And then we expect God to rain down answers to our problems.
These men were committed believers to holiness in spite of the community around them. They did not bow to the idol physically because they did not bow inwardly. They did not dance with the affluent in society. They did not participate in the senseless sinfulness of the world around them. They did not take part in idol worship outwardly. They chose live quiet lives of holy living.
In the face of opposition and oppression they were unbending spokesmen of God. Are you God’s spokesman to a world that lives as it thinks it ought to live? Are you living your life before your family, friends and neighbors as God has called you? Or do you do in Rome as the Romans do?
How dare us to cry out to God for deliverance from evil especially if we have not been His voice in a lost world! Are we committed to God’s purposes?
Secondly: They committed themselves to a life of prayer.
In Daniel 9 we hear Daniel speak of his prayer-life. He prays prayers of confession: confessing his own sins as well as the sins of his people.
You see, the commitment to living a holy life is backed up by living a life of prayer.
But keep this in mind: faithful praying will not keep you out of crisis. In fact, it will likely bring crisis your way. Why? Because God is testing and refining you in the fire. “But prayer will prepare you to face it all with trust- to become a living sacrifice for Jesus’ sake!” (D.W.)
You see, it is impossible to love God without seeking God. Prayer is “the barometer of devotion” (D.W.) to God. When we pray something special happens. And you don’t have to be a good conversationalist to pray.
Prayer is the process of yielding our bodies and total lives to Him
Thirdly: They committed themselves to trusting God- live or die.
Daniel 3:16-18- “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be know to you, o king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
“This is what brings Christ into our crisis: the full confidence that He is able to rescue and deliver us out of any crisis!” (D.W.)
These men had a faith in the faithfulness of God and they knew that God would do what was best for them and for His glory. They went into the furnace with the quiet faith that said, “God is able! But if not…”
This is not negativity about God.
So you are facing a serious health problem. God is able to deliver you but what if He doesn’t?
So you have uncertain financial problems. God is able to deliver you but what if He doesn’t?
So you are trapped in the midst of the storm. God is able to deliver you but what if He doesn’t?
We need a resolute faith that says: “If God does not I will still serve the Lord.” “If God does not rescue I will still go on trusting God.” “If God does not answer my prayer I will still pray.”
This is the kind of faith that is so lacking in so many Christian’s lives.
Is it lacking in yours?
Conclusion
Where are you as you stand before God today? Are you committed to Christ in spite of the circumstances you face? Are you following Christ even though you may face unanswered prayers, illness and even death?
Returning from our vacation to Florida last month, I was beginning to load up the van in Macon, Georgia after a night at the motel we were staying. I spoke with a couple of biker dudes who were riding their Harley hogs to Chattanooga, Tennessee for- what I found out later to be- a Harley Motorcycle convention. We shared our road stories- where we were headed and what was the purpose of our trip. They told me they were from New Orleans and that if I wanted to enjoy a great vacation I needed to come to their city. They said we would love it! Little did I know or they know that the tropical depression that was stirring up near the Bahamas would do less than three days later what it did.
And as we depart from here this morning, none of us knows what tropical depression is on the horizon in our life. We don’t know what heartbreak may come our way. But we can know without a doubt WHO will walk with us through the next storm of life we face.
Closing Hymn #556- “‘Til the Storm Passes By” by Mosie Lister