Disasters Big and Small
It’s been one of those years. We’re still recovering from the effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Our military is bogged down trying to secure peace and chasing shadows overseas. There’s a constant flow of jobs and industry out of the country along with a continuous wave of illegal immigrants leaching the life out of our structure of support and social welfare. Major airlines are declaring bankruptcy. GM is on the ropes. Taxes rise relentlessly higher along with the cost of health care and fuel. It’s not a pretty picture.

So what’s your problem? We all have them, but why? Perhaps it’s your job, your health, your finances, or your relationships. How can a loving God sit back and allow global disasters like hurricanes, floods, famine, and epidemics as well as these often very painful personal hardships that we face today? Why do bad things happen to good people? For that matter, why do bad things have to happen at all? And where is God in all of this—if He even exists?

Now let’s be reasonable. When we look at the New Orleans disaster, should we really blame God? It’s not like we lack the technology, resources, or understanding to build levees that will hold. It seems to me that if we decide to build a coastal city below sea level in a hurricane zone, we’re just begging for trouble—especially if we don’t invest to make an adequate structure to protect against hurricanes. We cannot expect God to protect man from his own stupidity. In fact, God has said that there’s a law of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7–8). Man sowed stupidity and immorality in New Orleans and reaped his just reward. And of course since our ever more paternal government has such ready access to our assets, you and I most likely will be paying to rebuild it (Proverbs 26:11).

Where Is God?
The atheist claims that God doesn’t exist. The Bible calls that man a fool (Psalm 14:1a). Over the past few months, whenever time and the weather permitted, I’d lounge by the pool and read the book The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel. I bought it mainly because it was a really good deal. I didn’t expect much from it but ended up being pleasantly surprised. The author is a writer by trade (convenient) who firmly believed in evolution—just as he had been taught. In his world view, there was no need for God. His assignment was to interview top scientists and thinkers to understand whether or not intelligent design or evolution was best supported by the facts. His overwhelming and life-changing conclusion was that there is a creator God and that evolution is “too far-fetched to be credible.” Basically, it takes much more faith to believe in evolution than it does to accept that the universe was created by an intelligent designer.

One of the highlights from the book includes this simple stream of logic:

1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
2. The universe had a beginning.
3. The universe has a cause.

The Case for a Creator offered many arguments from the field of science as well. Biologists have examined the cell and found it to be far more complex than Darwin had imagined. It is composed of irreducible parts which in effect negate (according to Darwin’s own writing) any notion of evolution of this basic building block of life. Then there’s DNA. It contains very detailed and specific codes necessary to define living things. It is this complex, precise, orderly information that attests to an intelligent design. The book is filled with further similar discussion and analysis to make the compelling case that we have an eternal, intelligent, almighty, creator. (For more on problems with evolution, you may refer to http://www.ronharrod.com/evolution.html.)

Indeed, the fingerprint of God is etched indelibly, unmistakably, and pervasively throughout the universe—from the expanses of space, to the uniqueness of Earth, to the smallest living creature, He is clearly seen. The Bible puts it this way:

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1)

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse… . Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools... . Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creation more than the Creator… . (Romans 1:20, 22, 25)

…but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (II Timothy 4:3b–4)

Who Is God?
Still, there do seem to be many natural disasters these days that really cannot be pinned on man. If God is all-good and all-powerful, He certainly can rid the world of all this evil and pain. Is God all good? The Bible claims that He is.

And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. (Luke 18:19)

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 136:1)

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. (I Samuel 2:2)

Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. (Psalm 52:1)

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy. (Psalm 99:9)

Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. (II Samuel 7:22)

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: (Jeremiah 32:17)

What Went Wrong?
In a very short sentence, man fell. As a result of that fall came the curse on the earth and on everything in it (Genesis 3:13–19). Death was a big part of this curse with all of the pain and deterioration that comes with the aging process. A once perfect creation was no more. Administration of the earth was given first to man by God at creation (Genesis 1:26; 2:15). Man forfeited his role giving his dominion over to his new master. It is Satan who is really running things down here right now. We know this because he offered the whole world to Jesus if He would bow down and worship him:

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. (Luke 4:5–7)

That Other God
Satan is “the God of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) “the prince and power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). He is restrained though, especially when it comes to what he can do to those who know God as is illustrated in the life of Job. He had to go to God to ask permission to bring trouble upon righteous Job. God granted Satan’s request, within limits. While it’s comforting to realize that he does not have free rein with those who know God, look at the kind of pain he can cause:

And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee… . While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. … So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. (Job 1:13–16, 18–19, 2:7)

He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44b)

Why?
We know man is fallen and cursed and Satan is in charge, but still God retains ultimate authority. What is God up to with all of this evil? It’s true there are a number of other factors at work:

1. The law of sowing and reaping was mentioned previously. God will not protect man from his own willful evil and bad judgment.

2. Scripture gives many illustrations of God’s higher purpose. Jesus’ disciples asked why a man was born blind. Jesus told them it was so He could give him sight (John 9:1–7). Then there was Joseph, who was sold by his brothers into slavery, betrayed by his master’s wife, and forgotten in prison before being suddenly transported to a position of great authority. In explaining why to his brothers he said “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20). The Apostle Paul described his pain this way, “there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:7–8). God used Satan's messenger to bring pain for Paul’s benefit. Finally, Jesus bowed to God’s higher purpose yet still asked from the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34b).

3. Then there are tests. Abraham was called “the friend of God” yet he faced trials and heartache in his life. These were mostly character building tests provided by God Himself. Abraham waited for his promised son until all hope was gone (Genesis 18:11–14). Then God told Abraham to sacrifice that son as a test (Genesis 22:1–2). God said there was none like Job in all the earth, yet God also permitted, at Satan’s hand, much pain, sorrow, and suffering into Job’s life. Job was brought very low, even to the point of asking why he was born (Job 3:11). And as we have seen, Jesus also was tested by Satan in the wilderness.

4. Finally, we know God will send judgment against individuals (Proverbs 11:31) and nations (Deuteronomy 8:20) that turn their backs on Him. God sent disastrous plagues upon pagan Egypt for not obeying God’s command to let His people go (Genesis 12:29–30). He judged the nation of Israel, making them wander in the wilderness for forty years, because they didn’t trust that He would deliver the Promised Land to them (Numbers 32:13). Christians can expect to receive God’s correction to warn us, teach us, and keep us from straying (I Corinthians 11:32; Hebrews 12:5–11, Job 23:10, Revelation 3:19).

Purpose of Christmas

…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (I John 3:8b)

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. (John 12:31–33)

A Sunday School teacher once asked, how could God allow all of this evil? From the back of the room a wise man raised his hand. His answer was simple. “God’s not finished yet.” We’re in the middle of the production right now. Things don’t seem to be working out too well at the moment. Just as in the case of Joseph, things looked pretty awful for many years. But suddenly the trial ended. God gave him great rewards. The same will be true for those who know him (Romans 8:28).

Back when man fell, God promised a redeemer (Genesis 3:15; Galatians 3:16), the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). This whole thing started with God’s love, and through the exercise of His love, He purchased back lost man. While we remain for this short span of life, we must endure evil, but before long, because of the Christ of Christmas, those who accept Him will live to be part of that final paradise where there is no more death, evil, sorrow, or pain (Revelation 21:4).

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (II Corinthians 4:16–18)

Summary

	Verse	Description
Love	I John 4:8, 16	God is love. Love is impossible without free will.
Paradise	Genesis 1:31	A loving God created perfect creatures with free will.
Paradise lost	Genesis 3:6	Free moral agents chose evil.
Curse and promise	Genesis 3:13–19	God responds with the curse and promise of a redeemer.
Evil reigns	Luke 4:5–7	Satan is established as ruler of the earth.
Testing	Genesis 18:13; 22:1	God tests Abraham.
Higher purpose	John 9:1–3	God creates a man blind from birth.
Chastening	Hebrews 12:5–11	Those whom the Lord loves, He chastens.
Judgment	Romans 2:5–6	Men are held accountable for their evil deeds.
God’s patience	II Peter 3:8–9	God waits for more people to come to him.
Paradise regained	Revelation 21:1–3	God creates a new heaven and a new earth.

News from Home
This year has been another blur. The house was sold in January. I moved into an almost new condo (five minutes from work) in March. Then dad was in the hospital twice, but thankfully he’s fine now. I’m still not married but am doing my best to find a wife and move on with life. I remain in the same group at IBM.