What is God saying in disasters?

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth. For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth. But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go. Behold, about this time tomorrow I will cause very heavy hail to fall, such as never has been in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. Now therefore send, get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter, for every man and beast that is in the field and is not brought home will die when the hail falls on them.” ’ ” Then whoever feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh hurried his slaves and his livestock into the houses, but whoever did not pay attention to the word of the Lord left his slaves and his livestock in the field. (Exodus 9:13–21)

My imagination could be way off, but for some reason, this warning seems to fit some of the stuff that is happening in today’s world. The weather and many events are as if God is saying, “See my power? Pay attention for no one is safe unless you are listening to me.”

The words ‘innocent victims’ gets tossed around too, but is anyone innocent? The Bible is clear on that matter: “For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:22–23) Certain some are worse than others, some are closer to innocent than to evil, but no one hits the godly target apart from faith in Jesus Christ.

That said, God has every right to judge the world just as He had the right to put Egypt through many plagues. He tested and found that some paid attention and many did not listen.

Yesterday I watched two fictional crime stories on television. They had the effect of prompting prayer for those who actually are involved in crime, either as perpetuators or as victims. I prayed that they would not only hear God but fear Him, pay attention to Him, that their conscience would be alive and they would realize their need for His mercy and grace.

Personal tragedy does this. A death in the family makes us think of our own mortality. An accident on the highway, even a minor one, makes us realize how vulnerable we are. An illness does the same. Everyone wants to be healthy, wealthy, and wise but it is in sickness, poverty, and foolish mistakes that we realize our need for God — or therefore we should. He is our only safe shelter. 

Jesus, I know that no matter what happens to me, You use it for good, to make me more like You. Even death, for it is in dying that the transformation is complete:
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2–3)
For that reason and hope, the news, even the worst news and the nastiest events, should therefore turn my heart toward You and listen to You — and do what You say. 

Living by grace

 

A friend and I discussed the current trend of Christians to avoid certain “sinners” whose behavior is obviously sinful. We both agreed that sin is sin. Christians can gossip, be judgmental, ignore needy people, and do things that the Bible also calls sin, but overlook some of those things and pounce on some we don’t do. We agreed that Jesus ate and drank with “sinners” that many of us refuse to associate with, and are not happy about bring ‘high and mighty’ — when we all fall short.

The gospel comes into play in nearly every situation. We cannot save ourselves, so what makes any of us think and act as if we did? Some call it ‘holier than thou’ and more accurately, ‘hypocrisy.’

Today’s reading begins by saying God’s tenderness toward the lowly is “rooted in His transcendent self-sufficiency.” I’m not like God, not self-sufficient. I need Him because any goodness I could claim is not even close to being like Him.

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

Those who put their faith in the Savior enjoy “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22–23) and none of us can claim that we did it ourselves.

Faith puts me in the family and kingdom of God, but it is not my nature or doing that makes that happen. I have no right to boast. Where would I be if Jesus had not come into my life? I shudder to think at the possibilities.

The Word of God tells me to treat people as Jesus treats me. That means I cannot look down my nose at those who sin — which is everyone. All fall short. All need Jesus. As my lunch friend said yesterday, how will they hear about Him if our snooty attitude keeps them from being around us?

Piper quotes this verse:

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:17–19)

The goodness of God comes out of His character. My salvation has given me a new character. The old one hangs around and can mess me up, but I’m to live by that new nature by the power of the Holy Spirit whose goal is to transform me into the image of Christ. One of His traits is to welcome sinners, not shun them, point fingers at them, or put them in a category where they are totally untouchable.

My hubby attended the funeral of a coworker yesterday. He was not a believer. His ‘celebration of life’ was held in the restaurant of a pub. No evidence of faith could be seen, but hubby went, said a few words about the man’s working life, and a few words about faith matters. No one responded to the latter, but hubby went to mourn with them anyway. I’m thankful for his example.

PRAY: Jesus, the world is filled with sinners. Some seem totally disinterested in being anything different, but You died for them too. And You want me to live for them as well. Justice for the orphans and widows, and love for the refugees and aliens who need to know that they are welcome, not just here in our lives, but also to know Your invitation to join You in Your life. Help me live the gospel, knowing I cannot be like You without yielding all of my life in the grace that You give.

The Cost of Freedom

 

The plot of some mystery and crime stories involves kidnapping and the demand of a ransom to provide release of the person held captive. Such fiction is based on reality. Statistics say human trafficking is a $150 billion-worth industry with thousands of adult and child cases every year. In the USA, 600,000 people go missing annually. Of millions of global kidnappings for ransom, more than 40% occur in Asia.

Recently the US State Department travel advisories put a K beside those countries with a risk of kidnapping by criminals and terrorists. The danger is real and the ransom demands are often very high.

Even so, the need for a ransom is not limited to certain countries or kidnapping cases. God’s Word explains that all human beings are held captive by sin and need a ransom to set us free. Otherwise we will perish. Romans 3:22–23 says, “There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and Romans 6:23 adds, “For the wages of sin is death . . . .”

In the OT, this was illustrated in God’s law for those who committed murder. Numbers 35:31–32 shows how serious God considers human life. “Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest.”

Murder was not the only sin. The rich may think their money will save them from sin’s penalty but Psalm 49:7–9 says, “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit.”

Yet the same song writer knew (verse 15)that “God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah.” The prophets also realized they would be ransomed from their captivity. Isaiah 51:11 joyfully declares that “The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

Jeremiah 31:11–14 tells the same thing:

“For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord . . . . I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord.”

While redemption is free it is also a costly transaction. No one can pay their ransom without dying but in great mercy, the Lord sent Jesus to pay it for us. The NT declares it and this is great reason for joy!

Mark 10:45. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Timothy 2:5–6. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”

1 Peter 1:17–19. “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Revelation 5:9–10. “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’”

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. I know the emotion of a child gazing in wonder at the policeman who finds and releases him from kidnappers, and the joy of a slave set free from bondage. I was bought with a price, a very high price. My new life and freedom first required death — that of God the Son who died for me, and as Romans 6:6–7 says, my “old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that I would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” He died for me and I ‘died’ in Him so I can now freely live for Him as one who has been ransomed!