09.14.05

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28.

The bombing of the Murrah Building 1995

The terrorist attack of September 11, 2001

Hurricane Katrina’s devastation 2005

What is next? The fact is that we do not know what is next - we do know, however, that whatever it is - it is headed our way. It appeared for awhile yesterday that something terrible was happening in Los Angeles with the electricity going off for some time. Finally, it was reported that someone had cut the wrong wire and that had caused all of the chaos. It did allow us to see how fragile our lives are when just the cutting of the wrong wire can cause so many so much trouble. We can only wish that it were that easy to repair what is wrong on the gulf coast.

The point of this is that bad things do happen to good people and not so good people all the time. Every one of us have our own difficulties and to us at least our own disasters to deal with at times. Knowing this we should conduct our own preparedness test and especially a spiritual one.

How do you respond when bad things happen? Do you curse, yell, and blame God? Many people do and I have watched them on TV cursing God for what has happened. At least there were quite a few taking God’s name in vain. Sometimes we have a name or several names to blame for a disaster and I guess some believe we have one now i.e. Republicans. But to be fair we know that it is more complicated than that and we have to wonder in every disaster about what part God played or did not play in it. We will never know on this earth for sure about the part God has in a disaster preventing it, allowing it, causing it, etc. However, there are two things that we do know and that we never have to wonder about or doubt as far as God is concerned.

Two things we know and we can stand on them through any storm, any problem, any difficulty that this life may bring our way. What are those two things? First, God loves you and wants the very best for you. God loved those people who died in the terrorist attack on 9/11. God loves all those people who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina's devastation.

How do we know that? Because the Bible tells us in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” What is the second thing that we know? We know Romans 8:28 is true “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God will bring good out of this terrible disaster on the gulf coast. We can look back and see that God brought good out of the 9/11 disaster.

No matter what may happen in your life you need to remember those two things because bad things do happen to good people. And when those bad things happen - remember this: God loves you and He has proved that love on the cross. He died in your place, took your penalty upon Himself. And remember that if you love God and follow Him - He can and will bring good out of the bad.