The world it seems, is always in a mess of one kind or another. From race riots in the UK, the war in Ukraine, the dreadful attacks by Hamas (which in Hebrew interestingly is the word for ‘violence’) on Israel and the subsequent military conflict that has ensued in Gaza as a result; the rumblings of a wider war increases.
And keeping all that aside, we have the ever-present threat of natural disasters that still echo in our minds from recent times, so yes it seems there is a mess in the world. So messy in fact, some may be tempted to doubt the goodness of God, or that he even exists. But both the existence of war and natural disaster are poor arguments against the existence of God. Neither are they evidence that characterises God as mad or bad. When we experience suffering and pain from what some might call ‘seemingly meaningless natural carnage,’ or experience the ravages of warfare, it does not mean there is no sense to be made in these things happening at all.
This comment is not to diminish the very real trauma that people experience through these events, they hurt – and their affects are felt deeply (sometimes leaving scars for life, both physical and psychological), but seeing these events themselves as evidence for an unloving, insane or non-existent God is flawed reasoning. The Christian view accepts that God indeed has control over all things, and by his love the vast majority of our days are held together without such calamities (a point often overlooked; see Colossians 1:17), restraining evil as it were.
In the beginning God created the world, and everything in it was very good. (Genesis 1:1) When sin entered the world through the first act of human disobedience, it was not just our relationships between God and each other that suffered. All creation suffered with them. This corruption has led to God at times allowing certain natural disasters to come on the world for different reasons. Sometimes it is judgment on his people for wandering away, and to call them back (Deuteronomy 11:17; James 5:17 drought, Numbers 16:13-34 God caused sink holes).
Other times it is allowing the world to reflect on the serious consequences of sin on our relationships, in a very similar way that he allows evil people to commit evil acts, including those situations were evil regimes are responsible for igniting wars of aggression and terrorism.
Many would be feeling the very real need to cry out as the Prophet Habakkuk, “How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?”
Also, Paul writing to the Romans in chapter 8:19-21 says, “…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 fact that natural disasters and wars cause widespread carnage, destruction and suffering, is demonstrating a deadly point – the seriousness of sin. But it also (mercifully) points us to the one, the saviour who defeats sin. Jesus Christ.
The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ set in motion a renewal that redeems all of creation.
Salvation has come into the world, not only saving people from sin, but from all the other side effects that sin introduced. Through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of Man, his life, death, resurrection, ascension and his promised return we look forward to a great and wonderful future.
Great because it will mean the renewal of all things in this world. For the time being creation groans as a woman in child birth. (Romans 8:22) We see this played out through all manner of natural disasters, actual wars and rumours of wars. These too, should give us pause to consider our own fragile mortality, what lies beyond, and what God might actually be communicating to us through them. He is calling loudly to us. And on that day, when the Lord Jesus returns, we shall have a new heaven and a new earth! The old one will have passed away along with its wars, Jesus will wipe every tear from every eye, death and hades themselves will be cast into hell (Rev. 20:14), and we shall find ultimate and eternal peace in the presence of God.
God is neither mad nor bad, but gracious and loving and has provided a brilliant future for those who respond to his call to have faith in him.
Rev Allan D Welch
Clarence Town Presbyterian Church
0402 387 690
