Recently I read about two accidents that happened within the same week.
In the first, a Pastor and his two daughters drowned as their car fell into a river. This happened at 7.30 in the busy morning hours. Nobody came in time to their rescue.
The second was a few days later. A car with a woman, her son, daughter and four months old grandchild fell into a flooded river. This happened at 11.30 midnight. These people trapped in the car were saved by locals who were awakened by the sound.
Incidents like these affect the dear and near ones who will question why this has happened to their loved one.
Floods take several lives and wash away homes and lands of many each year. Recent flash floods in Pakistan wreaked havoc where 4.6 million people were affected. Over 1000 died and about 300,000 became homeless. 90% crops in Sindh province were ravaged. Believers and non believers alike went through the tragedy. Everyone will have the same question, “why this to us?”
We hear about road accidents causing death of young and old everyday. Good people as well as bad people meet with accidents. You cannot conclude that it happened as a judgement or punishment from God. God allows certain things to happen to achieve His purpose. It is something beyond our understanding. Jesus made it clear to his disciples in John chapter 9.
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.
(John 9:1-3 NLT)
God will accomplish His sovereign will and purpose through all that happens in our lives. God is good, we can trust Him even though we don’t understand everything. God is love, He will not change.
….For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
(Matthew 5:45 NLT)
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
(Romans 8:28 NLT)
Simply trust God’s goodness and His sovereign authority when doubts and questions arise in your mind. Speak out and say God is always good, He is loving and unchanging.
Human negligence and irresponsible behaviour can be the root cause for several calamities and accidents. Destruction of nature through careless and selfish handling, polluting the air, water and earth, is probably the major reason for natural disasters.
However, nature too came under curse due to human sin, as God’s Word reveals.
And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
(Genesis 3:17-19 NLT)
Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
(Romans 8:20-22 NLT)
The whole earth has been given to deterioration and decay due to the fall of man. Until God restores everything after the final judgement, things will keep going from bad to worse. Even children of God have to go through this experience of pain and suffering looking forward to the day of redemption promised to them. It says the whole creation is groaning and waiting for that day when God will glorify His children, so that they too will experience deliverance from death and decay. Children of God will receive their new bodies which are free from all corruption, which will not experience sickness, pain, suffering, or death.
Until then, God will make everything to work for our good. We may not always see it or understand it but the Word of God says it. Read through the rest of Romans chapter 8. It reminds us that God loves us and is for us. Nothing can separate us from His love. The God who did not hold back His one and only Son and gave Him up to suffer and die on the cross for our sins, will do only good for us.
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
(Romans 8:18 NLT)
If you are grieved, in pain, or in doubt, be assured of God’s love for you that is unchanging. He will not leave you in pain, but comfort you and lead you forward, until you reach your ultimate destination, His glorious presence. But, remember, this promise is only for those who have put their trust in Jesus as their only Saviour and Master. If you haven’t done so, make sure you do it now.
