When Tragedy Strikes

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57.

Today marks the second time this week that two of my children have truly felt the sting of death in their hearts. One was a much-loved teacher and the other a beloved father of a much-loved teammate. My children are now at the age where the injustice of precious life being so swiftly and unexpectedly snuffed out is felt in the core of one's being. How can this happen? their young minds ask. Why did this happen? How can a person be so alive one day, living life to the full, and the next day be gone to the next world without giving us the opportunity to say good-bye? These are tough questions that have plagued all of us. All of us probably remember the first time the death of a friend or family member struck us to the core. The shock rocks our world and makes all of us realize we are standing on very shaky ground by living on this earth. Evil, sickness, disease, tragedy, and death swirl around us, and we never know if or when we will become the next victim. Fear descends on us and puts us in bondage. We look to blame someone, anyone, but many times there is no person to blame. Some will blame the enemy and his demonic forces, others will blame God, questioning His goodness and mercy. Some will even go so far as to say that God brought death as a form of divine plan. All of this leaves many of us terribly confused.

The first thing I told my children is what I would tell anyone who is trying to make sense of a tragedy: God did not do this. We are in the age of the church where John 3:16 is the Lord's mandate -- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God is out to save people not to kill them. In Ephesians 6:10-12, the Apostle Paul tells us to not be ignorant of the demonic forces at work in this world.  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in highplaces. Many of the evil and tragic events that have occurred throughout history can be directly attributed to Satan and his demonic principalities. Right now, I'm thinking of the Holocaust and 9-11. We know demonic powers are real because the Bible talks about them in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

"Okay, if that's true, then why didn't God intervene and stop the devil?" many people ask. "God is God - He's more powerful than Satan! He must not be very loving if He could stop a terrible thing from happening but doesn't!" These questions are the toughest to answer because the answer isn't obvious. I don't even attempt to answer this line of questioning, because I don't have the answer and am sure I never will -- not unless the Lord reveals it to me. And yet, I do have a response...

We do not know why God intervenes in some cases and not others. Certainly all of us have heard testimonies of healings, deliverances, escapes, rescues, inward unctions not to go into work on 9-11, and all sorts of supernatural stories where God is attributed as having intervened to save body and soul. And then there are the horrible, freakish tragedies that make no sense at all, leaving us wondering if there really is a God. BUT as believers in Jesus Christ, we are not called to understand, we are called to have faith and believe. This position goes against our flesh and mind, but it is in line with our reborn spirits. We have to renew our minds and believe what God's Word says, not what we experience in this world. We believe that, in spite of circumstances, God is still good, He loves us, and He is for us and not against us. We believe He is blessing us and will continue to bless us. We believe He has a wonderful plan for our lives -- all because of what His son, Jesus, did on the cross 2000 years ago. We believe His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives and in the lives of others throughout the body of Christ. We believe in our savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

Where there is the darkness of death, there is the light of life in Christ Jesus. A day is coming soon and very soon, where death will be swallowed up in victory and the sting of its terrible separation will no longer be felt. We will have new, glorified bodies, and there will be a new heaven and new earth -- we who are in Him will experience an earthly peace, as well as the shalom peace in our hearts that He brings at the new birth. That will be a glorious day indeed!

But until then, keep believing! Don't try to figure everything out! Adhere to God's Word, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and believe in God's love for you. God is still good, He is still love, and Jesus still rules and reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords! Claim the promises of God in the Scriptures and stand firm in your authority In Him. Keep fighting the good fight of faith and don't shrink back in doubt and unbelief. None of us knows the future, other than what the Bible tells us in the Book of Revelation -- Satan is defeated and will one day be cast into the lake of fire. Jesus is victorious, and we who are alive In Him, will live with Him forever. That is a very good future, my friend!