THE CALL

Those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Luke 13: 4-5, NLT

Have you been asking yourself any of the following questions lately as you live in the world today? What in the heck is going on? Why is so much disaster, killing and tragedy occurring in the world? Is God still in control of a world that seems to be spinning out of control?

You are not the only one. In his book, How much does God control, Dr. Martin De Haan II answers our questions with the following response:

Just because we can see no reason or purpose in some of the suffering we see occurring in the world doesn't mean there is no divine reason or purpose. We may not know the reasons, but God does and we must rest in the assurance that he knows the answer to the question "Why?"

Mr. Dehaan continues writing by saying: Whenever we encounter disease, disaster, or destruction in the world, it is a reminder that we are no better than the victims of these events and it could one day happen to us too. Thus, we are to see these events as a call to repentance for those who still need to be saved.

Jesus knew some people may have wondered why eighteen men died when a tower fell on them while they were working in Rome or why Pilate murdered some people from Galilee as they were sacrificing at the temple. He explained it wasn't because the people who died were more guilty of sinning than anyone else, but to draw people's attention to the importance of repenting of their sins.

Our nation grieves because of another tragedy that has occurred in the city of Surfside, Florida and for the many lives that have been lost. But may this tragedy once again remind us not to focus so much on the reasons for the tragedy and the lives that were lost, but for the many lives that still need to be saved.

Sharing the Word,

Jeaninne