Why did God allow Hurricane Harvey?

By the time you read this, hopefully, Hurricane Harvey will be long gone, but we all know that the after effects of such a tragedy take a lot longer to handle. The physical reconstruction work is daunting enough but rebuilding lives, families, hearts, and minds is another matter completely. Why did God allow such devastation? 

Many people claim to have answers, here are a few to think about.

1. We are being punished for sin.

God brought plagues against Egypt in response to Pharaoh's "hardened heart." The book of Revelation is full of disasters arranged by God to discipline those who reject him. Is Hurricane Harvey an instrument of his anger against our sinfulness?

If so, does this mean that people living on the Gulf Coast are worse sinners than those residing in the Wirral, London or New York City? God can use disasters to bring us to repentance, but is this always the explanation for such calamity?

2. Fairness demands that God ignores the crisis.

If God stopped Hurricane Harvey, wouldn't he have to do the same with every storm? Does this mean that he cannot cure anyone of cancer unless he cures everyone of cancer? He cannot protect one person unless he protects us all! Such logic is flawed. I, personally, know of examples where God has healed in response to prayer, and he has protected people in the past - i.e., in the UK we had a National Day of Prayer on the 26th of May 1940 before successful Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 against all the odds.

3. He does not know or doesn't care, or can't help.

Skeptics might claim that if God knew the devastation that this hurricane would bring, or cared for those in its path, or had the power to prevent their suffering, surely he would have intervened. So because he has not, he cannot? However, His word teaches that he is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Moreover, his omniscience, compassion, and omnipotence are on display regularly in our broken world.

So what is my conclusion - I do not have an answer, but I know that God sometimes intervenes in natural disasters and sometimes he does not. I do know that sometimes he heals and sometimes he does not. The scripture states in Isaiah 55:8 ”my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” 

I also know that God saves all who call upon his name, Romans 10:13 and that he loves us unconditionally despite the fact that we are all sinners, Romans 5:8. The Bible teaches that one day this broken world will be gone and that Believers will live in "a new heaven and a new earth,” Revelation 21:1.

I choose to trust God, to trust him even when I do not presently have explanations. Will you join me?

What a web we weave

 

I was visiting my mother in Scotland recently and having a look round her garden. One of the local artisans was painting her shed at the time, and so I was checking if the job was being done properly - this in itself is a bit humorous as I am 'Mr Not - DIY - International'. But, as dutiful sons do, I was checking to see if the paint was drying (I thought it did that itself!) and if the shed needed another coat. If you met my mother you would know that she wouldn't accept my word for it and would be checking later to see if the work was up to a satisfactory standard - which she did!

Bank Holiday Musings

Bank Holiday Monday. 

It is great to get away and relax on a Bank Holiday. I should say, for the benefit of those who don't live in the UK, that a Bank Holiday is a national holiday. Everyone is off work for the day. Our tradition is for everyone to go to the same places to relax. As a result we have gridlock on country roads and motorways (Highways). We all enjoy the excitement of sitting for hours in a car and wondering what time we will arrive home. All in all, it's a pretty relaxing day! I am talking a little tongue in cheek. You can have a great day out and be very relaxed if you choose well, where and when you are going. 

Are You Fearful About The State Of The World?

By Stephen Baker

The state of the world today is scary. Are you afraid? Stephen Baker discusses the state of the world today and he gives us hope as he tells us that Jesus Christ can meet the needs of our society.

Life is full of questions and often the answers are difficult. Stephen Baker seeks to answer various questions about life and faith using the Bible as his only source. Listen to Stephen’s show, “Life Questions,” on HopeStreamRadio as he tackles the challenge of life questions.

God cannot deceive people!

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap - Galatians 6:7

I think it would be fair to say that no one likes to be deceived. We feel cheated and manipulated when someone has misled us and wilfully abused our trust. We know inertly in our hearts that this type of behaviour is unacceptable.

As a Christian I am confident of this. God is absolutely trustworthy, He never deceives us. In our daily readings over the last few days we have been considering some of the characteristics of God that make him dependable and worthy of our trust. He cannot lie, He does not break promises and He can do everything except sin.

Let me talk to you for a moment about self deception. It is possible to deceive yourself. Our verse today warns us of this possibility. We could ‘stick our head in the sand’ and try to pretend that we can do what we like and get away with it. This verse states however that this would be amount to deceiving ourselves and the end result would be personally damaging. There is a principle at work here - you reap what you sow! This principle works in all spheres in life. The gap between sowing and reaping may vary depending on the situation. It is most vividly seen in the agricultural world. However it is also true in relationships, in business and financial matters. Why then would it not be true in the spiritual world. If we give time to God, invest in things that are of spiritual value, give priority to our spiritual health then we will reap the benefits in the long term.

Invest your life in the things of God for His glory and you will reap the results. If not in this life, in eternity. What a wonderful person our God is. We should praise and give glory to His name!

Memories in Melton Mowbray

I have visited Melton Mowbray a few times over recent years. It is a quiet market town with the number of shops constantly reducing. The roads are very busy as it is a main route between Loughborough, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Grantham. Forty footers seem to specialise in winding their way through the town. One thing that did surprise me was that nearly all of the banks were represented in the town. In an age when banks are closing right, left and centre it is good to see a town where you can still 'visit the bank'.

We were in the town with a group of teenagers from a Bible Camp that I was speaking at in Harby, which is quite near by. I took the opportunity to have a look around and I have posted some photographs of the Melton Mowbray Town Estate. The Town Estate was established in 1549 and it has had a beneficial and positive influence on the townspeople of the Melton Mowbray. From the parts I saw the town is pretty and well kept. The Melton Mowbray Town Estate is in a fact an ancient charity, which was well ahead of it's time, carrying out all the functions that are now normally provided by local authorities. For example the Melton Mowbray Town Estate does or did the following:

1. educate the children of the town (for over 320 years), 
2. built a grammar school and other schools, 
3. maintain the roads in the town, 
4. constructed bridges, 
5. provide street lighting, 
6. provide a burial ground, 
7. provided and maintained public wells and pumps for water, 
8. provided a fire engine and escape ladder, 
9. provided maintenance of the church clock and chimes, and since 1850
10. it has been running weekly street markets. 

Wow, this is quite an amazing organisation especially in light of the length of time these services have been provided. That's old England for you. Civilisation at it's best. 

Yet, a town with such organisation and careful provision of services has still faced many days of sadness. Efficiency and even a caring community spirit cannot protect people from days of trauma and heartbreak. 

As I read the information boards about this community I was struck by the fact that this idyllic corner of England also had boards remembering the loss of life in 'The Great War'. It still had a 'Roll of Honour' remembering the souls who had given their lives for the freedom of it's people. Evil had disturbed the quiet lifestyle of it's people. The cruel hand of death has visited many a home as young men and women laid down their lives for the hard earned liberties we still enjoy.

Why should it be so I ask? Why does evil wreck everything? Why is life all of sudden shipwrecked by sadness and disaster? Is there hope of anything ever improving. You might argue that this was the past and that there will never be such wars again. My prayer is that it might not happen but I am not so sure. Most people see the potential of war in the actions and rhetoric of our current world leadership. 

The reason for the wickedness in the heart of humans is stated plainly in the Bible. Romans chapter 5 verse 12 states 'Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned'. 

This is why evil exists and why it regularly affects every generation. But what can be done about it? Evil and it's disastrous effects are inevitable and unavoidable but is there anything that can be done to change the human heart?

The teaching of scripture is that we do not have the resources within ourselves to solve the problems of sin and evil. We cannot change human hearts by education, religion or any philosophical schemes. But there is an answer!

I will end by pointing you to the only realistic answer that I know - The Lord Jesus Christ. If you have read this so far please don't stop now. I believe that you need to hear what I have to say.

The teaching of Jesus answers the questions about evil and offers the solution. The solution is based on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. He said one day when anticipating his death on the cross 'And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me -- This he said, signifying what death he should die,' John 12:32,33. The Lord Jesus was not saying that everyone would become a believer because of his death. He was saying that all sorts of people would come to him for salvation. 

Salvation and conversion is the greatest need of the human race. Our hearts are deceitful and wicked. Salvation doesn't reform our old sinful nature but make us new creations and gives us life to replace the deadness we had because of sin. 

I'll end with another quote from the Lord Jesus. It's found in Matthew chapter 18 verse 3 Jesus said 'Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven'. 

What we need is conversion, individual by individual. Personal repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

If you have questions and more information have a read of some of my other blogs and/or get in touch via stepcar61@gmail.com.  

Leicester Girls Camp

This is the second day of camp. We arrived yesterday about 1700, had tea and then after a game for the campers headed to the meeting hall. One of the main reasons for this week of camp is to introduce young people to the word of God (the Bible) and to give them a clear understanding of their need of salvation. So last night I started by speaking about image and appearance. We all look at ourselves in a certain way but as most of us admit, in our saner moments, we don't always tell ourselves the truth. We think about ourselves more highly than we ought to and we overlook our flaws and sins when it suits us. That's what the Bible means when it states in Jeremiah 17:9 that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" We are not capable of being honest with ourselves all of the time.

But the reality is that God is painfully honest. In the same passage we are told that "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings," Jeremiah 17:10. God doesn't look at the outward appearance, as we do, he looks at the heart and his conclusion is that all have sinned and come short of His glory.

The good news is that God the 'Father sent the Son, Jesus, to be the Saviour of the world'. Our hearts might deceive us but God want to forgive us. His Son died to pay the price to provide salvation. Our part is to turn from our sin, repent, and trust His Son for salvation. 

Your response is....

God does not break His promises!

This is a tremendous statement but can I be confident that it is true.

Firstly, as a Christian I accept that the Bible is the word of God. There are many valid and persuasive reasons that convince me that the Bible is the word of God but that discussion is not for today. The Bible says that all the promises of God will ultimately be fulfilled in and through the Lord Jesus (see 2.Cor.1.20).

My second reason for believing this statement is the evidence of what God has done to date. In Romans chapter 15 verse 8 we learn that the Lord Jesus ‘confirmed the promises made to the fathers’. In other words He did what God had promised He would do. We find a similar statement in Titus chapter 1 verses 2 & 3. God promised ‘eternal life’ and the Lord Jesus provided it. If God has never broken His promises to date why would I assume that he will break them in the future?

If you happen to be reading this and are not a believer in Jesus Christ then you will find this truth quite disturbing. If God never goes back on His word then you are in big trouble. For among the many promises that God has made is this. He has promised to judge the world at the end of time (Acts.17.31). That judgement is personal as well as national/international. The judge is the Lord Jesus (John.5.22) and the assessment will be absolutely fair and evidence based (Rev.20.11-15). God will always do what is right and justice will always be carried out in the end.

If you are a believer look and pray for an opportunity today to tell someone about your experience with God. Share Gods word with them – you and they will be blessed by it.