God has been the subject of criticism among the agnostics, atheists, the not-so believing, and the innocent. Whenever natural calamities strike humanity, the enemies of God have a ready target in the person of somebody whom they do not believe to exist — rendering themselves as idiots
(Jude 1:10) “But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”
If only they are using their power to think, their allegation that, “If there is a God, why is He permitting these things to happen?”, they should have realized the truth that there are things that happen on earth beyond the control of all humanity; proving that somebody more powerful than man is doing such things. Their criticism, if investigated, will compel them to believe in the existence of God.
The notion that, “If there is a God these should not happen” gives honor to God whose existence they deny. They are unwittingly proving that God is a God of goodness — who must not permit these things to happen. Let us investigate.
Earthquakes (like the very recent one in Haiti), volcanic eruptions, and tidal waves are acts of God.
(Job 9:5-6) “Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.”
(Amos 9:6) “It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.”
Although not all catastrophes are acts of God; there are those caused by the recklessness and irresponsibility of men
(Revelation 11:8) “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
Flash floods most of the time are caused by the irresponsible act of greedy loggers, who by influence, were able to secure permits from corrupt government officials. The proliferation of non-biodegradable materials in the water systems is also a cause of flash flooding causing the death of poor people in human society. Whenever these things happen people always look for a person to blame; sometimes even blaming God who has nothing to do with it.
If people will only be wise in analyzing these things, even those which can be regarded as “inevitable”, it will be more prudent to look for the cause rather than look for someone to blame.
God is a loving and compassionate God; but why would such a God cause a tidal wave, an earthquake, and a volcano to erupt? Let us find out the reason.
In his sovereign power, God must be obeyed, feared, and respected. Fearing Him means keeping His commandments.
(Eccle. 12:13) “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Keeping his commandments also means loving him.
(I John 5:3) “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
God is worthy to be loved because “…because he first loved us.”
(I John 4:19) “We love him, because he first loved us.”
If we love God we will merit His favors. All things will work for the good of those who love Him.
(Romans 8:28) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
If we love Him and obey His commandments, God promises His blessings and protection to us.
(Deuteronomy 28:1-9) “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. The LORD shall establish thee a holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways."
There is a very important thing to ponder on: our God-given power to choose proves the existence of an Almighty God. We have been endowed with the power to obey or even to disobey.
(Deuteronomy 30:19) “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live…”
If it is our willful choice to disobey, curses will inevitably follow.
(Deutoronomy 28:15-22) “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.”
God is a just God that executes loving kindness and justice upon the earth.
(Jeremiah 19:24) “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
His justice and counsel will prevail.
(Isaiah 43:13) “Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?”
It will not be just for those who obey and love God if He will not execute His judgment against those who mock and hate him.
(Galatians 6:7) “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
In a court of law it is just to punish the offender and relieve the offended.
(Galatians 5:10) “I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”
If we are wisely looking for the cause of all the unfortunate things that are now affecting humanity: sicknesses, natural disasters, wars, discontent, and many more, we have nobody to blame but ourselves.
I believe that the atheists, agnostics, and those who say they believe in God (but disobey Him) are the main cause of the evils and sufferings that affect human society.
(Titus 1:16) “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
(Psalms 53:1) “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.”
Let’s now ask ourselves, is God to be blamed for all of these?
No!
Blame yourselves, atheists! Blame yourselves, hypocrites!
EFS