Good afternoon everyone. If you haven't heard, the Seaside Park Boardwalk is on fire. There are about 18 buildings and counting as well as the boardwalk that has fallen due to this disaster. They are still trying to get it under control. I consider this a disaster after what this community has already been through. Many of them are questioning God's will right now. Who wouldn't? How could he let this happen? Does he let this happen? It's only fitting to talk about this today:
Why does God allow earthquakes, tornado's, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones, mudslides, fires, and other natural disasters? Tragedies cause many people to question God’s goodness. It is distressing that natural disasters are often termed “acts of God” while no “credit” is given to God for years, decades, or even centuries of peaceful weather. God created the whole universe and the laws of nature (Genesis 1:1). Most natural disasters are a result of these laws at work. Hurricanes, typhoons, and tornado's are the results of divergent weather patterns colliding. Earthquakes are the result of the earth’s plate structure shifting. A tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake.
The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ holds all of nature together (Colossians 1:16-17). Could God prevent natural disasters? Absolutely! Does God sometimes influence the weather? Yes, as we see in Deuteronomy 11:17 and James 5:17. Numbers 16:30-34 shows us that God sometimes causes natural disasters as a judgment against sin. The book of Revelation describes many events which could definitely be described as natural disasters (Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16). Is every natural disaster a punishment from God? Absolutely not.
In much the same way that God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. Romans 8:19-21 tells us, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the world we inhabit. Everything in creation is subject to “frustration” and “decay.” Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.
We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God allows them to occur. Why did God allow the tsunami to kill over 225,000 people in Asia? Why did God allow Hurricane Katrina to destroy the homes of thousands of people? For one thing, such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant. What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid is sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28).
-Erwin Lutzer
In an economy so bad, this disaster will create hundreds if not thousands of jobs. Most of the buildings have fire insurance unlike flood insurance and no help from Fema. These places will be rebuilt bigger, better and of course will take more time. But when people are out of work, begging for any type of job, this will create tons of opportunities. Maybe the restaurants were dealing with old equipment and couldn't afford new equipment after the hurricane. The first insurance will give these business owners another shot at another 100 years on the boardwalk when maybe they wouldn't have had that opportunity before. Always look at the bright side. No one is dead. The season is almost over. And many jobs will be created. If anything the shore will be stronger: First the hurricane, then the fire, and we still survived, stronger than ever.
Let's all take some time tonight and pray for the community, the business owners, the fire fighters, police, EMT's and everyone involved today.
Bible Verse of the day:2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Song of the day: (Burn for you) TobyMac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxj70lNsxn4
Hebrews 12:29
For our God is a consuming fire.
Thanks for listening as always. Let me know your thoughts.
Scott
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