This morning I again corresponded with a GMO (Global Media Outreach) friend in the Philippines. She had emailed updates the past several days asking for prayer as Typhoon Hagupit threatened to be catastrophic. Today she was expressing thanks for the prayers and especially thanksgiving to God for sparing her family and their home.
She asked me an interesting question. “There are many evil people in our country. Do you believe the typhoon is God’s judgment on our country because of the evil?”
I told her that I cannot answer for God. But I do believe there are evil people in every country. 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 temporary this life is.
We know that God is good! Amazing miracles often occur during a natural disaster that prevent even greater loss of life. People suddenly reevaluate their priorities. 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 a saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies.
- And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:18
- For more info on Global Media Outreach:
- www.godlife.com/look-to-jesus &
- www.greatcommission2020.com/map
Billy Graham once said, If God does not judge America he will have to apologize for Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah 45:7 says “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.” On the opposite end of the spectrum Isaiah 57: 1 says The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity.
Excellent response Linda, thank you! Here is a Scriptural response that lines up with your comment: “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.” Ezekiel 16:49–50