Everything Happens for a Reason
In response to the comment posted :
“everything happens for a reason”
What is the reason behind the death of thousands; 40% of which were children in the recent tsunami tragedy?
The tsunami tragedy on the 26th December 2004 took nearly 300,000 lives, of which 40% were children. And now another earthquake hits Sumatra - 29th March 2005.What is the reason behind this? I am sure this question perplexes countless around the globe, as the survivors attempt to piece the remaining of the lives together, having lost so much that have been of value to them.
I am not attempting to give a mind easing answer to this question but the first thing that came to my mind in response to this comment is the sermon I listened to at church shortly after the tsunami tragedy struck. “ The tsunami is an unprecedented calamity of natural proportion” said the pastor.
Amos 3:6 in the Bible says “…When disaster comes to a city, isn’t it because the Lord planned it?” Verses 10-11 say, “My people have forgotten what it means to do right,” says the Lord. “ Their fortresses are filled with wealth taken by theft and violence. “Therefore” says the sovereign Lord, “an enemy is coming! He will surround them and shatter their defenses. Then he will plunder all their fortresses.”
Amos 5:8 goes on to say “ It is the Lord who created the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. It is he who turns darkness into morning and day into night. It is he who draws up waters from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the Land. The Lord is his name!”
Verse 9: With blinding speed and power he destroys the strong, crushing all their defenses.
“Every deadly calamity is a merciful call from God to repent” declared the pastor, highlighting verse Amos 5:14-15 which says “Do what is good and run from evil – that you may live! Then the Lord God Almighty will truly be your helper, just as he proclaimed he is. Hate evil and love what is good; remodel your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on his people who remain.”
Jesus fortells the future over 2000 years ago in Matthew 24:6-8 ; “ And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic” …Jesus told his followers…”Yes, these things must come but the end won’t follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim wars against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will only be the beginning of the horrors to come.”
Jesus foretells the future again in Luke 25-26: “ And there will be strange events in the skies – signs in the sun, moon and stars. And down here on earth, the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. The courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, because the stability of the very heavens will be broken up.”
Acts 2:19-20 says “ And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below – blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon will turn blood red, before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.”
Does this mean there is no hope? No!….
Acts 2:21 : “ And anyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”
In Luke 21:32-33, Jesus said, “ I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these events have taken place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.”
“Watch out! Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap. For that day will come upon every living on the earth.” Jesus concluded in Luke 34-35.
Thus, based on all these reference verses from the Bible that I have given, I would say that the reason for the deaths caused by tsunami is that the tsunami was meant to happen. Thus the loss of lives was inevitable.
The future was predicted for us so that we might believe and as Christians, not be taken aback but be prepared when these events take place.
Yes, I do not deny that countless innocent lives were lost in the tragedy. But we don’t get to choose how or when we die. We are alive today but we do not have any certainty of what tomorrow holds. Life is a temporary assignment. “ For we were born but yesterday….Our days on earth are as transient as a shadow”- Job 8:9.
The Bible is clear; “Friends, this world is not you home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.”- 1 Peter 2:11. Peter also explained in the Bible, “If you call God your Father, live your time as temporary residents on earth” in chapter 1:17.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.
Based on all this, the question posed as the comment does not leave me in a quandary. Furthermore, all these events and tragedies give people all over the world the opportunity to exhibit the love of God by helping those in need. So many volunteer workers and people all around the globe have put love and compassion into action when they contributed in whatever way they could to the tsunami victims. How can love be shown if there is no need for it?
I also see it as a test of faith towards God. Do we still put our trust in Him and rise above our circumstances, putting the needs of others above ours, in situations such as these? Do we still believe that He is in control? After all the warnings, signs and assurances given to us?
My conclusion is that everything does happen for a reason, although we may not have immediate answer to every question that boggles our mind.
“Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power and everything is for his glory.” –Roman 11:36.
“The Lord has made everything for his own purposes.” – Proverbs 16:4
…And that is the reason to everything.
“everything happens for a reason”
What is the reason behind the death of thousands; 40% of which were children in the recent tsunami tragedy?
The tsunami tragedy on the 26th December 2004 took nearly 300,000 lives, of which 40% were children. And now another earthquake hits Sumatra - 29th March 2005.What is the reason behind this? I am sure this question perplexes countless around the globe, as the survivors attempt to piece the remaining of the lives together, having lost so much that have been of value to them.
I am not attempting to give a mind easing answer to this question but the first thing that came to my mind in response to this comment is the sermon I listened to at church shortly after the tsunami tragedy struck. “ The tsunami is an unprecedented calamity of natural proportion” said the pastor.
Amos 3:6 in the Bible says “…When disaster comes to a city, isn’t it because the Lord planned it?” Verses 10-11 say, “My people have forgotten what it means to do right,” says the Lord. “ Their fortresses are filled with wealth taken by theft and violence. “Therefore” says the sovereign Lord, “an enemy is coming! He will surround them and shatter their defenses. Then he will plunder all their fortresses.”
Amos 5:8 goes on to say “ It is the Lord who created the stars, the Pleiades and Orion. It is he who turns darkness into morning and day into night. It is he who draws up waters from the oceans and pours it down as rain on the Land. The Lord is his name!”
Verse 9: With blinding speed and power he destroys the strong, crushing all their defenses.
“Every deadly calamity is a merciful call from God to repent” declared the pastor, highlighting verse Amos 5:14-15 which says “Do what is good and run from evil – that you may live! Then the Lord God Almighty will truly be your helper, just as he proclaimed he is. Hate evil and love what is good; remodel your courts into true halls of justice. Perhaps even yet the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on his people who remain.”
Jesus fortells the future over 2000 years ago in Matthew 24:6-8 ; “ And wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic” …Jesus told his followers…”Yes, these things must come but the end won’t follow immediately. The nations and kingdoms will proclaim wars against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this will only be the beginning of the horrors to come.”
Jesus foretells the future again in Luke 25-26: “ And there will be strange events in the skies – signs in the sun, moon and stars. And down here on earth, the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. The courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, because the stability of the very heavens will be broken up.”
Acts 2:19-20 says “ And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below – blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon will turn blood red, before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.”
Does this mean there is no hope? No!….
Acts 2:21 : “ And anyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved.”
In Luke 21:32-33, Jesus said, “ I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these events have taken place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.”
“Watch out! Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap. For that day will come upon every living on the earth.” Jesus concluded in Luke 34-35.
Thus, based on all these reference verses from the Bible that I have given, I would say that the reason for the deaths caused by tsunami is that the tsunami was meant to happen. Thus the loss of lives was inevitable.
The future was predicted for us so that we might believe and as Christians, not be taken aback but be prepared when these events take place.
Yes, I do not deny that countless innocent lives were lost in the tragedy. But we don’t get to choose how or when we die. We are alive today but we do not have any certainty of what tomorrow holds. Life is a temporary assignment. “ For we were born but yesterday….Our days on earth are as transient as a shadow”- Job 8:9.
The Bible is clear; “Friends, this world is not you home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.”- 1 Peter 2:11. Peter also explained in the Bible, “If you call God your Father, live your time as temporary residents on earth” in chapter 1:17.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.
Based on all this, the question posed as the comment does not leave me in a quandary. Furthermore, all these events and tragedies give people all over the world the opportunity to exhibit the love of God by helping those in need. So many volunteer workers and people all around the globe have put love and compassion into action when they contributed in whatever way they could to the tsunami victims. How can love be shown if there is no need for it?
I also see it as a test of faith towards God. Do we still put our trust in Him and rise above our circumstances, putting the needs of others above ours, in situations such as these? Do we still believe that He is in control? After all the warnings, signs and assurances given to us?
My conclusion is that everything does happen for a reason, although we may not have immediate answer to every question that boggles our mind.
“Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power and everything is for his glory.” –Roman 11:36.
“The Lord has made everything for his own purposes.” – Proverbs 16:4
…And that is the reason to everything.
posted by JJ at 6:28 PM
2 Comments:
“The Lord has made everything for his own purposes.” – Proverbs 16:4
[max] children and families have died. and your response is .. touch luck ..
I am not God...i don't have answers to everything that happens. The explanation that i gave just shows how I see it based on what i read in the Bible.
What would be your answer to your own question?
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