Christian Issues Daily
“Why does God allow natural disasters?”
What are your thoughts on this week’s QOTW?
– http://www.gotquestions.org/questweek.html –
“Why does God allow natural disasters?”
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Comment by jimmy
if you read the bible about noah and the ark and understand it clearly you will kn ow then why God allows disasters
Comment by Godsgirl3
I do not agree. God is a good God. He does NOT send anything bad. Adam and Eve had dominion and gave it back to satan in the Garden of Eden. Satan is the God of this world. God sent Jesus to remit for ALL sin…….He is not judging this world. Jesus went to the cross for nothing if this is so !
Jesus had not died for sin in the Old Testament. Read your Bible.
Comment by Godsgirl3
AMEN
Comment by R
Sometimes its how you look at it. During the parting of the Red Sea, it was blessing for Israel, it was a natural disaster for the Egyptians.
Comment by amasia
God is full of love and mercyful,He is our creator,He provided everything for us without asking Him to provide.He put the man on this earth to work,pray and to praise him,He also put the commandment as a guidance through the light of his holy word so that the man may understand the good and the bad.God is the all knowing and love,Tsunami occur in nowaday,thats a lesson from God for us to turn our face to him not our back,which means obey and keeps his commandment,but the bible is clearly says,that,if the time of God is near(judgement day)then trouble and problem are also appear,such as tsunami,earthquake,disease,nations against nation etc.
Comment by Roxie
I disagree.
I am a lowly woman and I treat my beloved children better than my heavenly “father” treats his. Isn’t god perfectly loving? Why would s/he allow so many people to die horribly in a tsunami today? I have heard the argument about the creation “groaning” in anticipation of … what? What is god waiting for? Get it over with already and quit torturing your children!
Comment by ceseeley
God is going to fulfill future Biblical Prophecy:
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mar 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Mar 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
Mar 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, [even] at the doors.
Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
Mar 13:1 ¶ And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings [are here]!
Mar 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Mar 13:3 ¶ And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
Mar 13:4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
Mar 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any [man] deceive you:
Mar 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and shall deceive many.
Mar 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for [such things] must needs be; but the end [shall] not [be] yet.
Mar 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these [are] the beginnings of sorrows.
Mar 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
Mar 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead [you], and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against [their] parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mar 13:14 ¶ But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Mar 13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter [therein], to take any thing out of his house:
Mar 13:16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
Mar 13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mar 13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
Mar 13:19 For [in] those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
Mar 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
Mar 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here [is] Christ; or, lo, [he is] there; believe [him] not:
Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.
Mar 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Mar 13:24 ¶ But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
Mar 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
Mar 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Mar 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Mar 13:28 ¶ Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
Mar 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, [even] at the doors.
Mar 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Mar 13:32 ¶ But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Mar 13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Mar 13:34 [For the Son of man is] as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Mar 13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Mar 13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
Mar 13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Comment by Edith Jane
It was an act of “mother nature” just kidding.
Seriously though..
It’s sad that when it’s a beautiful rainy day people say “Oh look how great mother nature is.” But then when it’s a earthquake, tornado, etc. the same people say “God is cruel, look at what He’s done to us!” Why?
If you take God out of your schools, work places, homes and ultimately your life… expect disasters to happen to you or around you. I’m sorry for the people of Japan… DEEPLY! but just like our country was attacked (9/11) I felt the same way… we pushed God out.
Anne Graham Lotz gave an inspirational answer to a question such as this.
The question by Jane Clayson was “I’ve heard people say, those who are religious, those who are not, if God is good, how could God less this happen? To that, you say?”
Anne’s answer was “I say God is also angry when he sees something like this. I would say also for several years now Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace. And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection. We need to turn to God first of all and say, God, we’re sorry we have treated you this way and we invite you now to come into our national life. We put our trust in you. We have our trust in God on our coins, we need to practice it.”
Very true! What do you think?
Pray for the people of Japan
Comment by Edith Jane
my source
http://www.prayerfoundation.org/billy_grahams_daughter.htm
Comment by Debbie
Roxie,
God is waiting for this; “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” (ROM 11:25) When the very last Gentile destined for salvation is saved, God will come. It is His love and long-suffering (holding down wrath) that allows every single person destined for heaven instead of the Lake of Fire to attain salvation. Find your joy…”And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.” (1SAMUEL 2:1) The answer is in the Word (JOHN 1:1)
MARANATHA (Come Lord Quicly!)
Comment by Rd
We don’t know the FULL nature of God. He told us His ways is not our ways. As we read the Bible, AS A WHOLE, we see as very loving to His people who love him and serve Him. He is also a fire to those who reject him and curse Him.
He’s loving to His people, we still on this sinful corrupted world. We don’t when and how he bring His people home or to heaven.
But, if need you here, you will be indestructible, you will have awesome power God there for you. Just like a boat going down a stream, the ungodly persons will be without power and just float down to destruction. But God gives a super powered boat to up stream to do His work. Or it takes alive fish to up against the current.
Comment by alvin
in 1 kings 18:27 elijah mocked the believers in a false god this way, “he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened”
matthew 25:15 tells a parable of a master leaving his servants in charge and taking a long journey.
is our God an absentee landlord? what personal evidence can you bring to prove he is not?
has Jesus fulfilled his promise in john 14:16 to provide us with the continual Comforter? in 14:16 Jesus says, “i will not leave you comfortless: i will come to you”
have you experienced this?
he does tell us in john 16:33 “in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, i have overcome the world”
does anyone want to explain all this?
Comment by ceseeley
All;
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
1. Who is “my people” in this verse referring to and is this verse also applicable in New Testament Times?
2. Has God taken away His Blessings and is He trying to tell the people how to get His Blessings back by Inspiring the writing of this particular Scripture?
3. Did any true Japanese Christians die in Japan because of this recent earthquake(s) and/or tsunami(s)?
If one is into Biblical Numerology and/or Mathematics, it might be very interesting that this terrible, terrible, tragedy hit Japan 70 years after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and now America is in all haste sending as much aid to Japan as it can!
One might say that it is not exactly 70 years because the attack happened on Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941, but maybe Japan started to prepare for the attack on Pearl Harbor around March 11, 1941 … it would make a good research project! Anyway, it is close enough for people interesting in Biblical Numerology and Mathematics since 7 is a whole, complete, prophetic number!
Comment by ceseeley
All;
What is most interesting to me, is what my family experienced almost three years ago when we had 11 feet of highly contaminated flood water in our house and we lost everything … and how the Good Lord Blessed us so much afterwards and because of these blessings, it was such a blessing to many, many other people.
During this flood time, would I have been commenting the way I am presently about what happened in Japan?
Comment by UncleJoe
“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.”
It is [equally] distressing that [all good things that happen] are often termed “acts of God” while no “[blame] is given to God for years, decades, or even centuries of [disasters].
Comment by Michael James Stone
Well, I certainly don’t want people to “Second Guess God” because they may have a “personal application” of God “using” a circumstance in thier life to be spoke to By God;
Which is one way God by His Holy Spirit may apply a “understanding” or situation to a personal growth as God chooses to “inspire” the person at the time.
AND
I don’t want to Say God is Judging anything because he determines His time, his place, his means and His Check and Balances to determine IF He spoke it…,
Or in the case of most people I encounter with a “gift” or a “calling” that doesn’t fit the normal Christendom, they didn’t mistake a “personal application” for a corporate revelation.
IN other words, when God wanted to Speak He was obvious, provable and the delivery method: person, place or thing, could and we were commanded to verify.
It would be a VERY EXACT proof; not a vague speculation.
If it is, it is exhortaion NOT Prophecy. SO,
When you look locally, God uses local things to get your attention, when you look personally he uses personal things to get your attention. The reason he is trying to “get your attention” is because God promised; Jesus said; and we should pursue; the fact that God desires direct personal communication with each person.
As such we can know a lot more than we know now even to the extreme of personal intimacy as Jesus had and has. It is for us.
In such then, those who know Him recognize that God will always save to the uttermost and Every single Human Being has had an opportunity and will have had an opportunity to know Him before they die. When they die without choosing him, we are assured no matter what the circumstances be, that God knowing ahead of time all that would occur, planned every opportunity to know him and meet him.
We call this the Providence of God in olden days in that God could plan and include all occurrence in a life even to the minute detail. God knew that the world would suffer cataclysm from the consequence of sin and curse and as such planned for that also.
Likewise By his sovereign Holy Spirit He could work in some one purpose and in others another purpose with the same circumnstances.
BUT When God wanted to intervene Personally HE SAID SO. Check it out if need be but the scripture are clear that ALL occurrences ultimately pointed to a reveal God and Jesus is some way.
Sadly, people “WANT TO” make fit Universally what God may give to a person personally and then use it prophetically and draw the wrong conclusions of to whom it is intended. This is what is meant by speaking hastily.
They may have the gift, they may have the calling, but often the operation of it may not be as they assume it is for.
In Japan people died; Yes Christians who know Jesus did. Yes people who didn’t did. No, seventy doesn’t fit a Biblical usage of Prophecy to America and Japan because as far as God is concerned in Revelation and Prophecy, it is about Jesus and the nations involved with his Chosen People so we can learn from, not surplant.
Yes it can be a personal application or learning in the Gifts of the SPirit and “personal” application, but not Scriptural application.
No God hasn’t removed his blessing because Jesus warned us by the Tower of Siloam to not Dare Judge people and Why God allows something to happen.
As Jesus said, it is to reveal God and for us our Compassion, Mercy, actions and reaction and it is part of tribulations in the small way, but all prophecy is centered in Israel, not us.
Since God knows exactly every detail, he uses every detail and has planned every detail and anything less than detail in defining it isn’t necessarily God revealing, but we guessing.
As far Gemmatria that is the Biblical way of saying Numerology. Jesus rode in on the exact Jewish Day to the day, anything less really is numerology and not gemmatria. WE should not, must not, better not try to use peoples misery to make a spiritual point when Jesus died for the very people we may be playing “tower of siloam with”.
That is the Scriptural answer Jesus offered to those who said God was judging, when according to Jesus, He was not.
Comment by Michael James Stone
As the Lord said about those who build upon Sandy land, lowlands, flood-lands or next to a river or next to the ocean; We can exercise our freedom of expression like in California to build on a cliff so we have a better view, but I have no problem telling a person who builds on a Cliff side and the Mud slide took out their home eventually:
No God didn’t judge you; He warned you ahead of time.
What God gave us to prepare for the eventual end of the world and the natural disasters that occur as he said: “he causes the Sun to shine and the rain to fall on the wicked and the good” that is for us to learn from as the Spirit of God puts us into remembrance.
But the mercy I show to a man in need is commanded of me by Jesus irregardless of how many times he makes the same mistake because it may not be the man in need that is the issue, but the fact God put me the Christian there to meet that need.
If I am salt. I don’t put that in some ones eyes, but their mouth for flavor, thirst; and retention of water; which is the washing of the word; as I give to them that are thirsty. And not drown them in the voice of my convictions.
Comment by Rambo
Ceseeley,
Insight into your question on post #13:
1. Who is “my people” in this verse referring to and is this verse also applicable in New Testament Times?
GEN 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. (20) And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget (analogous to the twelve tribes of Israel), and I will make him a great nation. (21) But my covenant will I establish with Isaac…
GEN 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad (Ishmael), and because of the bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Ceseelely, “my people” refers to the descendants of Isaac according to God’s covenant through Isaac, not Ishmael. Ishmael was blessed, but the descendants of Isaac are the beneficiaries of God’s covenant. Hence, “my people” are the descendants of Isaac via God’s promised covenant. As far as the impact of this relationship in the NT, it is profound! Jesus, a descendant of Isaac, not Ishmael, was sent by Almighty God (covenant based GEN 17:7-8) unto the ‘lost sheep’ of the twelve tribes of the house of Jacob-Israel, son of Isaac. “My people” were ‘lost’ following the lies of the descendants of Cain, also known as ‘Pharisees’ in the NT.
I have argued on this site that the ‘blood’ Pharisees, excluding those Pharisees by ‘faith’ as Paul; the ‘blood’ Pharisees are descendants of Ishmael. These ‘blood’ Pharisees had taken over the synagogue with the lie the Pharisees (Ishmaelites), are the beneficiaries of God’s covenant being Abraham’s first born.
These blood descendants of Abraham through Ishmael are ‘veiled’ as descendants of Cain per GEN 4:15 & 24. Jesus wrent this divine veil exposing the ‘blood’ Pharisees as descentants of Cain, through whomever (veiled), descendants of Ishmael, through the Egytpian, Hagar. Egyptians, the ones who just mysteriously happened to be living in Canaan, with no record of their ancestry (Hint, GEN 4:15 & 24). The blood Pharisees, were functioning under God’s promised anonymity as those hypocrits, fools, and blind guides misled the house of Israel, among others, away from God’s promised Messiah encompassed within God’s covenant through Isaac, not Ishmael.
Ceseeley, please realize this ‘mark’ in GEN 4:15 and GEN 4:24 of ancestral anonymity remained in full force and effect throughout the entire Bible until Jesus, Son of God who instituted this ‘mark,’ until Jesus made the true ancestry of the blood Pharisees known. Jesus’ unveiling of the serpent seedline did NOT occur until MATT 23 and JOHN 8.
I’ll be glad to refresh the argument that the blood Pharisees are descendants of Ishmael at your request. The blood Pharisees even testified against themselves, when we believe the literal words of Jesus, as to the blood Pharisees literal ancestry (MATT 23:31). Few grasp the meaning of ‘sevenfold’ and ‘seventy and sevenfold’ in GEN 4:15 & 24. Fewer still recognize the literal ancestry of the blood Pharisees Jesus unveiled in MATT 23 and JOHN 8. Consequently, those of us who do not grasp this, are vulnerable to be seduced by the son of perdition in the end times, the Assyrian, the antichrist.
I might add that Paul spoke that we are heirs to the Abrahamic covenant who accept Jesus as the true Messiah, that we put on Christ, and are heirs according to the promise (GAL 3:26-29). “My people” is tough enough at times to keep up with. Without knowledge of the ‘mark’ (GEN 4:15 & 24) we remain vulnerable to spiritual seduction and false prophets.
Ceseeley, you present an interesting ovservation being 70 years from Pearl Harbor, and the ‘wholeness’ of the number 7. I might add that Satan, through Cain, received 7 generations of anonymity, God’s children were ‘blinded’ for 77 generations (excepting God and Jesus). 7-7-7. When we remove God and Jesus from the 7-7-7 and get 7-6-6, this leaves room for the two witnesses in the end times: Christians and Jews. Interesting?
Rambo
Comment by Michael James Stone
No Jew will agree with you Rambo and neither will most scholars. You can tell me Pharisees are gentiles and that would be the same as Calling a Pharisee a Son of Ishmael.
Can I give you a hint where you went wrong?
You probably read about the Hasmonean Dynasty which is a Mixed Jewish blood line and mixed that with Herodians somehow to get a mixed up reason to call the Pharasee’s who have a lineage and you can read it on google mixed up in your idea.
Sorry it just doesn’t hold any water in the face of facts. Admittedly Jewish facts but were pretty good as historians and did a good job with proving we’re accurate as per Dead Sea Scrolls so unless you have some historical record, your opinion about Jews to Jews about jewish history is frankly, stupid, since you are talking to a Jew.
Ever read “Philo of Alexandria” or ANY Jewish historical record?
No offense but your Blood Pharaseeims smacks of Anglo Israelism or Replacement Theology and that frankly is about as far away from Scripture as you can get.
But if thats what you are into, it isn’t what this site is, and you can look up Replacement Theology ON this site to get a grip on when people try to replace Chosen People with themselves.
Comment by alvin
so far i am seeing a lack of wisdom on this issue. of course, “if any lack wisdom, let them ask of god who gives to all humanity freely and upbraideth not.” (james)
to understand the suffering going on in japan is beyond our ability to sense or make sense of.
do i have all the answers myself? no!!!!!
is god an absentee landlord? does he care?
how can we show that he does care?
should it at least make us humble enough to realize it could happen where all feels safe right now? the illustration of the persoanl experience with flood water fits here. How did the christian people around ceseeley respond?
is what is happening in japan an early warning of more trials in the future?
the sorrow of japan is not direct fulfillment of these next 2 verses, but that island being shifted on its tectonic plate does give us cause to think about :
revelation 6:14 “the heaven departed like a scroll when it is rolled together and every mountain and island were moved out of their places”
revelation 16:20 “and every island fled away and the mountains were not found”
-this did not just affect lowland coastal areas, but reached far back into the interior of japan-
you are welcome to give the reference and scriptural context to Jesus statement in the gospels, ‘do you think these were worse than all sinners, i tell you no, but except you repent, you shall all likewise perish’
hebrews says that all things that happened were examples for us and others to learn from. what should we learn from it? the need to help and pray for others perhaps?
what else besides that?
Comment by Mimi
The Room
I can only imagine…
“THE ROOM” as written by a 17 Year Old Boy.
This is excellent and really gets you thinking about what will happen in Heaven.
17-year-old Brian Moore had only a short time to write something for a class. The subject was What Heaven Was Like. “I wowed ‘em,” he later told his father, Bruce. It’s a killer. It’s the bomb It’s the best thing I ever wrote.” It also was the last.
Brian’s parents had forgotten about the essay when a cousin found it while cleaning out the teenager’s locker at Teays Valley High School in Pickaway County .
Brian had been dead only hours, but his parents desperately wanted every piece of his life near them, notes from classmates and teachers, and his homework. Only two months before, he had handwritten the essay about encountering Jesus in a file room full of cards detailing every moment of the teen’s life. But it was only after Brian’s death that Beth and Bruce Moore realized that their son had described his view of heaven.
It makes such an impact that people want to share it. “You feel like you are there,” Mr. Moore said. Brian Moore died May 27, 1997, the day after Memorial Day. He was driving home from a friend’s house when his car went off Bulen-Pierce Road in Pickaway County and struck a utility pole. He emerged from the wreck unharmed but stepped on a downed power line and was electrocuted.
The Moore ‘s framed a copy of Brian’s essay and hung it among the family portraits in the living room. “I think God used him to make a point. I think we were meant to find it and make something out of it,” Mrs. Moore said of the essay. She and her husband want to share their son’s vision of life after death. “I’m happy for Brian. I know he’s in heaven. I know I’ll see him.
Here is Brian’s essay entitled:
“THE ROOM”
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings.
As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “Girls I Have Liked.” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named “Friends” was next to one marked “Friends I Have Betrayed.” The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. “Books I Have Read,” “Lies I Have Told,” “Comfort I have Given,” “Jokes I Have Laughed At.”
Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: “Things I’ve Yelled at My Brothers.” Others I couldn’t laugh at: “Things I Have Done in My Anger”, “Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents.” I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived.
Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked “TV Shows I Have Watched,” I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn’t found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked “Lustful Thoughts,” I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me.
One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!” In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn’t matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards.
But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.
And then I saw it. The title bore “People I Have Shared the Gospel With.” The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.
And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of this room.. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.
No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn’t bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes.
Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room.. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn’t anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn’t say a word. He just cried with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files.. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. “No!” I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was “No, no,” as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn’t be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive.
The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, “It is finished.”
I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
If you feel the same way forward it to as many people as you can so the love of Jesus will touch their lives also. My “People I Shared the Gospel With” file just got bigger, how about yours?
Comment by Michael James Stone
If your God is a God of infinite capability and detail; then he can and does know and plan in infinite detail.
If your God is circumstantial, then circumstances will dictate your understanding.
If God is distant, then from a distance you relate to God.
Jesus said his God is Personal and real and viewable as well as knowable and he talked to and with Him as a Father and a Son.
If you have anything less than that; then you have a God who is less than Jesus prayed for you to have.
But if you do have a God like that; He can answer you personally and you know the truth, which whether you understand how or not; will always find it’s answer in God is love.
So said Jesus; so say I.