I have been snapping all sorts of flowers today. Colour is abound and just before the official summer starts we see colour in its richness everywhere. Rain drops seem beautiful sitting on leaves and petals, watering the flowers and keeping everything ticking along fine. It doesn’t require any intervention for all this to work and show the full glory that God made them for. Rain can seem like a miserable thing on some days but it really is good, it nourishes and helps everything on this planet exist. With out it we would not last long. In Britain we must be blessed as a country to have so much.
And yet there are countries where water is sparse and colour seems lacking and dry. Where catastrophes seem to happen on the extreme scale. There is a vast difference between many elements in this world; The rich and the poor, the green lands and the dry deserts. Why would God allow this?
I can’t really attempt to answer how God watches the earth and chooses to act on many occasions and seemingly sits back on others. But one thing that sits at the back of my mind, rather than deny the truthfulness of the Bible as God’s word, I would say that perhaps it is gradually opening up to us the more we study it.
Why would God allow deaths from horrible natural disasters?
We are told that the earth groans from our sins.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
This earth is groaning because of man, and the earth in its original creation was beautiful and perfect beyond compare. We still see echoes of its beauty but nothing compared to what it once was. The earth has been subjected to birthing pains because of the sin of man. But there is hope as we still see the colours and flowers return each year. If the earth is in birthing pains it will soon be renewed with the coming of Christ, but until then we are to all to be good stewards of the earths resources to keep this place in good health, to help the suffering when they need us, to help the poor when they are so far removed from our rich lives, until the great day of the coming of Jesus Christ.
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Our bodies also groan as the earth does but we have hope through Jesus Christ and the wondrous thing is that we can not lose that hope in Christ through anything.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
So if there is great trials in our lives, do not condemn God because man first caused this earth to groan through his sin. But instead just pray and act as children of God helping all as best we can and in love.
How can we breach this gap between rich and poor?
We can all do something by donating time and money to good causes, but I think making it personal by actually making a connection with people who are in that situation really brings home the vast unfairness of a life we lead, a vastly privileged life we have and how we must be great stewards of our money and time for God.
Compassion is a project that helps people donate money to families that are poor but also it develops that connection between the two worlds by letters and messages through Jesus Christ. There are many other schemes like this but why not start by donating little and see how God keeps you and gradually increase your giving. God can only smile when you help others that are not as privileged as we are and that need immediate need from suffering.
Dear Lord help me to manage my time, money and gifts for you and others more effectively so that I can do you proud. Help me to rise to the challenge without grumblings of the glorious road that you have set ahead for me as others.
Amen
with blessings
Graham
365 Exhortations 