Make the Lord your strength

A certain man was driving very fast down a long straight stretch on a Texas highway one hot afternoon. No other cars were in sight, but up ahead the driver saw the form of a large bird bending over a dead rabbit lying in the middle of the road. As he got closer a huge hawk straightened up defiantly and looked directly at the car. In stead of taking flight, as these birds normally do, the giant hawk spread its wings almost blocking the road and challenged the speeding car. A loud thud was heard as the car struck it and the proud challenging bird lay dead on the road.

Later on, the man saw the small rounded form of a turtle making its journey across the road. The turtle looked up and saw the car coming. He didn't run, he didn't dodge out of the way, nor did he challenge the car. Instead the turtle stopped and pulled in all four legs and its head into its shell. Thump the turtle was dead. As he continued to drive, saddened by the death of both creatures and angry at himself for not slowing down in time, he suddenly thought how both animals were a good illustration of two different kinds of people.

There is one group of people which proudly looks at life and says I can get through everything that life throws at me - I don't need the help of God, because believe I can deal with it all myself. Thud they can't. The other group of people ignores trouble, believing that it will somehow disappear if they don't think about it. They close their eyes thinking problems will go away. Thump they didn't.

So how should we confront the problems of life? Certainly not with proud defiance; it is a foolish individual who really believes that they can cope with whatever should happen without God'
s help and sustaining power. Likewise it is equally foolish to deal with problems by ignoring them. Problems simply do not vanish by pretending they don't exist.

The Bible gives us the correct response. The right way to deal with the problems and troubles of this world is by preparing ones inner spiritual resources in advance; in other words by developing and nurturing a deep relationship with God. Doing this means that when trouble does come we have inner provisions which will help us ride out any storm.

One of the greatest needs people have today is for someone or something to trust in and rely upon. This need is getting greater all the time because we are living in an increasingly insecure world. Psychologists say that human beings have an inbuilt need for this security. They need something that will be an anchor for them in times of trouble; something that they can be sure will never disappear or fail them. The incessant cry is who or what can we trust? when all around is change, decay and trouble.

Thankfully there is Someone Whom we can absolutely trust- a Being Who is Eternal in His Changelessness. Having a deep personal relationship with God provides the security for which humans crave. In the Eternal Being of God we can find real security and certainty; Someone Who will never let us down. Having such a relationship with God means that an individual can remain calm amidst the storm. They are secure in the knowledge that no matter what difficulties they face, God will grant them His strength, guidance and His Companionship so that they need never fear being deserted, abandoned or left unable to cope. This feeling of security and certainty is a gift God bestows on all those who seriously follow Him.

To receive this security which God alone offers, an individual must walk closely with God day by day and they must constantly work at their relationship with Him in order to make it strong and deep. They need to be diligent in their Bible reading and praying, faithful in listening to their conscience and obedient in following the Commandments and the will of God in their personal lives. There is no security without having this real relationship with God but if they do form one, then whenever they are afraid, they will be lifted to the calm of His Eternal Presence and His peace will still their troubled minds. The inner spiritual resources God provides will enable them to ride out any storm.

During the years between the First and Second World Wars, the French built an 87 mile long defensive wall called the Maginot Line. This great wall was to defend their border with Germany and three lines of defence were incorporated into it. The first was a series of small fortified barracks designed to sound the alarm. The second line was composed of reinforced bunkers to delay enemy attack. The third line of defence, was however, quite unique being in the form of deeply buried multi-storied forts. Below each of the barracks, at the deepest level were further storehouses of ammunition, food and a constant supply of fresh water from wells.

When the Germans did invade France in the Second World War, not a single one of these forts was ever overcome or taken by the German Army. The German military knew that soldiers could survive and resist almost indefinitely because they were so well prepared and had such deeply buried resources.

In a similar manner the Bible teaches that individuals must develop a deep relationship with the Lord so that they have adequate fortifications against the problems of life. The only line of defence that really works is to have deep within us a Spiritual Resource, hidden, abundant, and untouchable. God Himself is this Resource because only He can be relied upon absolutely and under all circumstances. Anything less than having Him in our lives leaves us vulnerable, weak and spiritually disabled.

If an individual is walking closely with God day by day, if He is at the centre of their hearts and lives and they are obeying Him diligently, then they need not fear the assault of life's enemies. May we, like King David be able to say Whom shall I fear, if the Lord is the Strength of my life? Of whom shall I be afraid? for in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His tabernacle Wait on the Lord and be of good courage, for He will strengthen your heart. Psalm 27vs 1, 5 and 14.

The God of all Comfort

Many decades ago there was a devout Christian, who as a young lad of fifteen became paralysed by breaking his back. For the next forty years, until his death, he was confined to bed, having to lie flat because movement caused him terrible pain. According to members of his family he suffered acutely almost every day.

The stricken man had such a strong Christian faith people used to come to him for spiritual guidance and advice. On one occasion a visitor asked him “Does Satan ever tempt you to doubt God’s love?” The man replied “Oh yes, he used to try and tempt me. I would lie here and see my old school mates walking by and Satan would almost scream in my ears ‘If God loves you why did He let your back be broken?’ But I soon discovered an easy way to overcome that temptation so I haven’t had it for years. Whenever I was tempted to doubt His love I would start to think of the Cross. I used to think of the scourging of Jesus, then I used to imagine the nails being driven into His Hands and Feet and I would say ‘there is the proof He loves me’ and with that thought the temptation would depart.”

This man had become aware that the Lord Jesus fully appreciated what it was like to suffer, because He Himself had endured the torture and excruciating agony of the Cross. He had come to see the Lord as a Fellow-Companion in his suffering.

Scripture repeatedly mentions this work of comfort and support which the Lord gives to those who are suffering. It shows clearly that He is not a Being Who is “remote and distant” away up in the Heavens, but a God Who is close beside us and with us. He suffers when we suffer, He grieves when we grieve and He endures all that we endure. God has not called us to a life of loneliness but to a life of Companionship and Comradeship with Him and so we walk along the path of life together hand in hand. No matter what we go through, He goes through it with us.

This work of comforting and supporting is so much part of His nature it is one of the actual titles of God. In 2nd Corinthians Ch1vs3-4, God is entitled “The Father of mercies and God of all comfort” -- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” What beautiful words and there are numerous others such as;

“The Eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy Ch33v27); “In all their affliction He was afflicted.” (Isaiah Ch63v9); “Fear not, you are Mine…when you pass through the waters I will be with you…and when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, for I Am the Lord your God.” (Isaiah Ch43vs1-2); “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm46v1); “Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you, because He will never permit the righteous to be overcome.” (Ps55v22); “He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings you shall take refuge…”.( Ps91v4); “God heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm147v3); “Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you.” (1st Peter Ch5v7); “My grace is sufficient for you because My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2nd Corinthians Ch12vs9-10). See also Psalm 37vs 17, 23-24, 39-40; Matthew Ch5v4;Ch6vs25-34; Ch25v40; John Ch16v33; and Romans Ch8vs38-39.

When a person faces suffering, be it, bereavement, ill health, redundancy or whatever, they have a clear choice lying before them. They can either look to “The God of Comfort” for comfort and help or they can choose to be rebellious and bear their burden alone. Depending on their decision they will either become a better Christian or a bitter Christian. The first way, which was the choice made by the man with the broken back, leads to deeper fellowship with the Lord and a greater perception of His love and care. The second way leads to isolation, bitterness of spirit and a falling away from the Christian faith from which there is little chance of return.

Sometime ago a minister described how a member of his congregation was changed after she made the right choice and experienced the Lord’s comfort during a time of suffering. He explained that prior to her trouble she had a cold and harsh nature and never displayed love or sympathy for anyone. She went away for months. On her return to the parish, the Vicar called on her again only to find her totally different. The cold nature was gone and in its place was kindness and warmth. Her face was no longer drawn and pinched, but radiant and content. As they sat having a cup of tea she explained that while she was away she had gone through a terrible personal trial. She added “Everything had gone and nothing was left to me but God. Then I turned to Him in trust and acceptance in a way I had never done so before. Such was the comfort He gave me I could almost touch Him because His presence was so real.” She had chosen the path to becoming a better Christian and it had completely changed her from “within”.

It is often said “Happiness is an inside job” and this is never truer than when applied to spiritual matters. Those who turn to the Lord in times of trouble will indeed find themselves changed for the better from “within”. Those who reject His comfort will also find themselves changed from “within” but for the worse.

Scripture reassures us that God knows and loves each one of us individually and that no one is hidden from His sight or excluded from His compassion. (Psalm 139vs1-18;Hebrews Ch 4v13). Every person is equally significant to Him no matter who they are and no matter how humble their station in life. God is Infinite in His care, and the realm of physical nature demonstrates this spiritual truth. In creation there is nothing too large for Him to be interested in and care for, just as there is nothing too small. He completes the largest star in the heavens with the same attention to detail as He puts into the tiniest insect, petal or shell on the beach. Each is completed with as much care as though it alone existed in the Universe. The same is true when it comes to His level of interest and care for every single human being.

To illustrate this, Jesus used the example of the sparrow. In Luke Ch 12vs6-7 He said “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Pastor James McConkey once wrote of an incident which brought home to him the profound beauty of this teaching. “It was a beautiful day, so I was sitting on the veranda enjoying the sunshine and the sky. Suddenly I became conscious of the swift flight of some small object before my eyes. This was followed by a dull thud and something falling onto the grass. There before my eyes, not ten feet away, lay the crumpled body of a sparrow. He turned upon his back, his little claws stretched appealing to the sky; there was a convulsive shiver as though in pain and then the tiny eyelids closed in death. A short gasp and it was all over. A tell tale spot of blood on his breast explained what had happened. His swift flight in the air had brought him into collision with the telegraph pole and his sparrow life had been the price. It was only a passing incident, this death of a sparrow. Seemingly no one but myself sitting there alone had noticed it. But like a flash came to my mind those precious words, ‘not one sparrow is forgotten before God.’ “(See also Psalm 50vs10-11).

The Lord is the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” He knows everything about us right down to the tiniest detail. He knows all our problems, all our worries and all our fears. Those who look to Him for support find that He is truly their Companion in trouble and a Divine Fellow-Sufferer Who shares all that they endure.

Divine intervention in times of conflict

Regular visitors to this website will know that it features many articles describing how God is active in today's world just as He was in Biblical times. When a person is in a right relationship with the Lord and prays to Him with a clean heart about some particular matter, they can expect their prayers to be heard and answered in some special way.

Recently, I came across an example of answered prayer which brings a special message of hope and encouragement to our troubled world. Although our world is full of conflict and strife, let us not despair, because God can and does answer faithful prayers in even the worst of situations and conditions. As we shall see, He answers prayers in a "conflict situation" just as easily as in times of peace and tranquillity.

This particular incident occurred during the Second World War, and took place amongst a stricken crew on board a submarine which was trapped on the seabed. The miracle of Divine Intervention which occurred would never have happened if it hadn't been for the Christian devotion of the subs commander, Rupert Lonsdale.

Both of Rupert's parents were devout Christians and with their help and guidance he too came to accept Jesus Christ as his Saviour during his teenage years. His personal relationship with God was based on repentance and faith in Christ and he firmly believed that through His Cross and Resurrection he had eternal life.

As a young man he joined the Royal Navy and in 1927 when he was 22 years old he volunteered for submarine service. Such were his gifts of leadership he was soon promoted and by 1934 was given his first command. Rupert did not fit the typical image of a submarine commander, swashbuckling and hard-drinking. Instead he was a quiet man with no wild ways. He was a man who took God and devotion to following God profoundly seriously. Shortly before the outbreak of war in 1939 he was further promoted and given command of a submarine called "Seal".

On Monday 29th April 1940, Seal sailed out from Immingham on a secret mission to lay mines where German shipping was pouring out of Northern Germany into the Atlantic. Unknown to Lonsdale and the crew it was regarded as a suicide mission by High Command and they weren't expected to return.

On the 4th May Seal successfully laid 50 mines across the appointed area and started to head for home. It was then that they were spotted by enemy aircraft. German UJ boats with underwater listening equipment were called in, and what followed was a deadly game of cat and mouse between the German Navy and Seal which went on for many hours. Finally, after an incredible 16 hours underwater, the crew sighed with relief feeling certain they had escaped death. The crew relaxed, and food was served. All of a sudden at about 19.00 a violent explosion rocked the sub and slowly it sank 90 feet to the seabed. Two rear compartments had been completely flooded with an estimated 130 tons of water entering the stern of the boat. There was no panic. Lonsdale was in the control room at the centre of the crisis. He remained calm, alert and focused. The weight of the crew's trust was on him. Their lives were in his hands. It was a crushingly lonely time for him.

After nightfall, Lonsdale gave the order to surface. Momentarily the sub began to rise but then it slowly sank back to the sea floor. The problem was that the weight of the water inside the boat was pressing the damaged stern into the mud. The bow was pointing upwards to the water's surface at an angle of 25degrees. They made several more attempts to surface but the stern would not budge. Every man onboard knew that they faced death. There was no ventilation and the air was becoming foul. Even in a sitting position they were gasping for air. To take 3 paces had the same effect as a 100 yard sprint under normal conditions. Seal had now become their metal coffin.

23 hours had now passed since Seal had dived and they had reached the end of all human resources. What happened next was God's part of the story and has been officially documented. Lonsdale turned to those around him in the control room and said "We have tried everything we can think of to get to the surface, but without result. None of us can think of anything else. I am going to call the crew together and we shall say some simple prayers. Our object will be to ask God to help us".

The very idea of praying stirred the crew. It is recorded that only 2 men out of the 59 refused to pray. This is how he began. "We have been in some tight spots before and we've come through. With God's help we shall do so again. I think it is time we said the Lord's Prayer together, but first I want to ask God to help us. "Dear God" he prayed, "we have tried everything in our power to save ourselves and we have failed. Yet we believe that You can do things that are impossible to men. Please, O Lord, deliver us. "Lonsdale started the Lord's Prayer and found himself joined with a lot of voices more full of reverence and feeling than he had ever believed possible. The sounds of praying eventually stopped. Lonsdale continued, "And now I think we should all quietly say our own prayers to God." He stood silent, head bowed. Finally the impromptu service was over.

The answer to their prayers came almost immediately when it flashed into Lonsdale's mind what they were to

do. He calmly explained to the crew that he had an idea but it would require the cooperation of them all to put it into action. Although they were feeling half dead, they rallied to his orders. First, he ordered a rope to be rigged up along the length of the slopping submarine. Then he ordered every man to climb up the slope to the forward part of Seal, by holding on to the rope. Lonsdale was using his men as human ballast in the hope that their combined weight at the front of the sub would provide enough leverage to loosen the stern. The forward compartments filled with men too weak to talk and Lonsdale gave final orders to surface. The last two tanks were blown and the engines were put on full power. Slowly, agonizingly, Seal shuddered from end to end. Then she broke free from the seabed and levelled out. Ever so slowly she then rose to the surface.

Lonsdale's lifestyle of prayer had long included brief "arrow" prayers that nobody knew about. Now he whispered "Thank you Lord". Most of the crew both then and upon later reflection were convinced that they had experienced Divine guidance and many of them came to a real faith in Christ as a result of it. Even one of the two men who had refused to pray was spiritually changed.

In order to save the lives of his crew Lonsdale surrendered Seal to the Germans and he and his men became prisoners of war. As a prisoner of war, Lonsdale helped conduct church services in the camps to which he was sent and after the war became an ordained minister in the Church of England.

Lonsdale witnessed for Christ in submarines, in prisoner of war camps and in more than half a dozen churches where he was a minister. He died in Bournemouth in 1999 aged 93 survived by his wife Ethne and son John. Over his study desk hung a painting with the words "Faith sees through tears written below it. "When I am down" he said "I find that kneeling and giving my life and problems to God enables me to find Him and His grace."

Rupert Lonsdale experienced many moving and tragic events in his life but his personal relationship with God grew closer each time. He was no "fair weather Christian" and his faith and trust in God is an example to us all. Having experienced and witnessed so much suffering he was once asked to define his basic beliefs. What he stated should be an encouragement to anyone who has, or is going through a time of suffering or loss.

This is what he wrote:

"I don't see how anyone cannot believe that there is a Power who created the universe. Some Mind must have created the orderliness of the stars and the solar system. Consider the phases of the moon; the regularity of the tides and seasons; the implanting of a magnetic North Pole; the fact of gravity. All these point to an infinite Master Mind beyond our understanding in greatness.

The Bible tells us that evil has entered into this creation. I believe in the everlasting mercy and patience of God, though if people carry on being rebels against God, it must end in being put out of His Kingdom.

I believe in Christ as the Son of God. No man ever spoke or acted as he did. His power over evil, His wisdom and love show that He was above all other men. He was the true image of God. Yet He was a man knowing weariness, frustration and suffering—tempted like us, yet without sin. Those around Him knew these truths.

The Bible tells us all this and I believe the Bible is true. Christ showed us what God is like. By faith in Christ, Christians have forgiveness and eternal life. Heaven is unspoilt by evil. Those who have never received God's forgiveness may not take their unforgiven sin into God's holy presence after death. During this life real believers grow more into Christ's likeness.

I also believe in the Devil, cunning, strong, and always ready to draw us away from being fashioned by God. The Devil can be successfully resisted when we ask for God's help.

Nothing will ever shake me from my belief that God is Love, despite the things I have seen happen to other people in war, not to mention the things that have happened to me. [Editor: Rupert's first wife died giving birth to his only child, his second wife died of cancer in 1961, and his third wife died of a brain tumour in 1986]. I believe that God has a plan for each one of us and we must put our lives in His hands. More needs to be written about the Holy Spirit, the Cross and the fact of the Resurrection which are the heart of my faith..."

When we watch the news and see tragic events unfold before our eyes, let us remember that God is there in the midst of it all, supporting, sustaining and strengthening. He is right there in the middle of such suffering ever ready and ever able to answer the prayers of the faithful no matter how great their particular difficulty may be - even the prayers of a submarine crew trapped on the seabed in war time!

The Japanese Tsunami

“In all their afflictions He himself was afflicted.” (Isaiah ch 63v9)

Since the Tsunami in Japan I have been contacted by a number of people pointing out that the Bible predicted these sort of events. Clearly many who view this website are interested in what Scripture predicts and it is indeed fascinating (and sobering) to read the list of warnings Jesus gave in Luke ch 21 of “great earthquakes in various places”, “fearful sights” (v11) and of people being terrified of “the sea and the waves roaring” (v25).

Although these kinds of events are plainly foretold for all to read, it is equally important to understand WHY such disasters can occur in the first place. The issue of human suffering is one of the main topics in Scripture and it gives clear teaching on why such tragic events can take place and why God’s will is so often NOT done on earth (as it is in Heaven). It explains fully why such disasters which are plainly contrary to His will take place.

Many decades ago before electrification a little girl was on a train journey with her mum. She couldn’t understand why at one point the conductor went through the carriage lighting the lamps when it was broad daylight. “Why is he putting on those lights?” she asked her mum. Her mum smiled and said “wait a bit and you’ll see the importance of those lights”. Moments later the train plunged into a long tunnel and then the girl realised the wisdom of the lamp lighting.

So likewise there are verses in Scripture which seem very insignificant and unnecessary until the tunnel of suffering is entered. Only then does it become clear why the Bible provides such teaching and the meaning of what is being taught can be seen in practice.

In Romans ch 8 vs 20-21 St Paul explains that the natural laws created by God regarding how the planet would operate were indeed originally perfect and flawless but that they are now in a state of “decay corruption and degeneration”. The corporate nature of human sin effected and spoilt what God created perfect so that these laws no longer work as God intended. (Just as a computer with a virus will often still work albeit imperfectly, so likewise the present condition of these laws of nature). The underlying basic teaching of Scripture from Genesis through to Revelation is quite simply that we humans inhabit a “fallen and decaying world” where God’s perfect laws of nature no longer work properly and God’s will is not often done.

What this means in practice is very profound although few think about its actual meaning until they enter the tunnel of trouble. It means we have human bodies which work to a degree but which are susceptible to disease such as cancer, birth defects and so on. This was never part of God’s will or plan for the human race, it is solely the result of the corporate nature of human sin causing “the fall and corruption of God’s once perfect natural laws”. Again, this “fall of nature” means the planet now has an imperfect weather system which gives some parts of the world too much rain and other parts none at all. It means some parts of the world experience earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis etc. None of these things were part of God’s desire for this planet.

Scripture warns that even the most devout person is still effected by these “fallen laws of nature”. Living a Christian life doesn’t mean one will escape getting cancer, having a child with a birth defect or being caught in an earthquake because quite simply we are still subject to “the natural laws” of the planet we inhabit. These “damaged” natural  laws explain why disasters occur, why “bad things” can happen to “good people” and why “good people” still have to put up with disease and ill-health.  The Bible states that the fall of nature means that bad events happen to the righteous and wicked alike and that this in itself is an evil. (Ecclesiates ch 9 vs 1-3)

One day these natural laws will be restored to their original and perfect condition and there are many promises in Scripture concerning this event. For example Isaiah ch 11 vs 6-9 describes a new world order where “the wolf will lie down with the lamb , and the lion will eat straw like an ox and nothing will harm or destroy in all the earth” . Amos ch 9 v13 describes the restoration of the environment so that the earth will once again produce many harvests each year rather than just one. This restoration of nature and new world order doesn’t occur until after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In Romans ch 8 vs18 -19 St Paul encourages us by stating that the sufferings of this present world order cannot be compared with the glory and beauty of the new world order which Christ will usher in.

Until that momentous restoration let us remember as Charles Spurgeon put it;

“God is with us in our sorrows.
There is no pang that rends the heart, nor disturbs the body but Jesus Christ has been with you in it all.
 Feel you the sorrows of poverty? He had nowhere to lay His head.
Do you endure the griefs of bereavement? Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus.
Have you been slandered for righteousness’ sake  and  it has vexed your soul? He said “Reproach hath broken My heart”.
Have you been betrayed? Do not forget that He too had a friend who sold Him for the price of a slave.
On what stormy seas have you been tossed which have not roared about His boat?
There is no glen of adversity so dark and so deep and apparently so pathless, that when, in stooping down, you won’t discover the footprints of the Crucified One having trodden the path before you .
In the fires and in the rivers, in the cold of night and under the burning sun, He cries “I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am both thy Companion and thy God!” ‘

There are several other important articles about “suffering” on this website. To find them please refer to the articles section on the right hand side.

What the Bible teaches about unjust suffering

Scripture teaches that God is infinitely Holy and Loving and is intensely concerned about the welfare of every individual on the planet. Indeed He loves us so deeply that He gave His only Son to suffer for our sins on the Cross

This being the case how then can there be unjust suffering in the world? For example, why is there violence, why are there diseases, earthquakes, famines, droughts etc? If God is Holy, Loving and all-powerful, how can things happen which are contrary to His will?

Scripture reveals that such things can happen for three reasons.

1. Due to human freewill.

Putting it simply, God had one of two choices regarding the kind of beings He brought into existence. Either He could create beings without any ability to choose for themselves whether to obey Him or not meaning they would be nothing more than mere androids and robots; or He could create beings with the ability to make their own personal decisions how they behave, Anyone who has seen the film "The Stepford Wives" will understand that to be a real creation we had to be a free creation.

God created us free to make our own decisions and free to choose personally whether to obey Him or not. This gift of freewill means, that individuals can do (and often do) what God doesn't want and events occur which are clearly contrary to His will. His will regarding the kind of conduct He desires from us is clearly set out in the Ten Commandments. It is not His will that people are murdered; it is not His will that people experience theft and It is not His will that marriages breakdown through adultery etc etc. These things happen due to human disobedience. Due to human freewill "bad things" can happen to "good people".

2. Due to the corrupted state of the laws of nature.

In this life we have not only to contend with the freewill actions of other people; actions such as theft, murder, greed and pride etc, but we are also inhabiting a planet which the Bible describes as being in a "fallen state". In Romans ch 8 vs 20-21 it explains that the "natural laws" (ie the "laws of nature") created by God regarding how the planet would operate were originally perfect and flawless but that they are now in a state of "imperfection, decay and corruption". The corporate nature of human sin affected and spoiled what God  created perfect, so that these laws no longer work as intended. Just as a computer with a virus will often still work to a degree , albeit slowly and imperfectly so likewise the present condition of these laws of nature.

This explains why we have human bodies which work to a degree but which are susceptible to diseases such as cancer, birth defects, MS and so on. This is why our physical bodies age, grow old and die. Scripture states clearly that physical disease and death were never part of God's original plan and is the result of the corporate nature of human sin causing "the fall and corruption of the natural order".

This "fall of nature" explains why we have a weather system which sort of works but which gives some parts of the planet too much rain and other parts none at all. It explains why some parts of the world get earthquakes and experiences so called "natural disasters". None of these things were part of God's desire for this planet.

Scripture warns that even the most devout person is still affected by these "fallen laws". Living a Christian life doesn't mean one will escape getting cancer, having a child with a birth defect, or being caught in an earthquake etc, because quite simply we are still subject to the "natural laws" of the planet we inhabit. Again, being a devout Christian  doesn't prevent one from growing old and dying! It is these fallen natural laws which explain why disasters occur, why "bad things" can happen to "good people" and why "good people " still have to put up with disease and ill-health. The Bible warns that the fall of nature means that bad events  happen to the righteous and the wicked alike and that this in itself is an evil. (Ecclesiastes ch 9 vs 1-3)

One day these natural laws will be restored to their original and perfect condition and there are many promises in Scripture concerning this event. For example, Isaiah ch 11 vs 6-9 describes new world conditions "where the wolf will lie down with the lamb and the lion will eat straw like an ox and nothing will hurt or destroy in all the earth". And Amos ch 9 v 13 describes the restoration of the environment so that the earth can once again produce many harvests each year rather than just one. This restoration of nature doesn't occur until after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

3. Due to Satanic activity.

Angels are mentioned more than 300 times in Scripture. They are described as being a distinct and separate order of intelligent beings created by God. Like humans, these life forms have the gift of freewill and because of this the Bible warns that not all angels are good! Some angels have become evil and are facing God's judgement. These angels used their freewill to rebel against the Lord and their leader is called Satan, the Devil and the Deceiver.

Putting it simply, the Bible teaches that we are in the midst of a spiritual war and that those who are faithful to God will face problems and temptations from time to time due to these freewill actions of these fallen angels. This conflict is described in Ephesians ch 6 vs 10-17, 2 Corinthians ch 4 vs 3-4, 1 Peter ch 4 v 12, 1 Peter ch 5 vs 8-9, 1 John 5 v 19 and in numerous other places too many to mention.

Faithful Christians down through the generations have experienced this conflict in various ways, from outright persecution and martyrdom to lesser problems such as family troubles, illness, temptation, financial and business worries and so on. They faced these things not because they were being unfaithful to God but precisely the reverse; namely they faced these things because they were being faithful to God and Satan hates and fears faithful Christians.2 Timothy ch 3 v 12 states "Yes , all who desire to lead a Godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution". See also Acts ch 14 v 22.

Whatever form these problems take it is important to remember that this freewill activity and power over the faithful is limited and restricted by God in depth and duration. Satan can go so far but no further. There are countless promises in Scripture concerning this. For instance, in John ch 10 v28 Jesus promises that no one can ever snatch the faithful out of His hand; in 1 Corinthians ch 10 v13 it promises that God is faithful  Who will never allow anyone to be tempted more than they can endure and in Psalm 55 v 22 it says "cast your burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain you, because He will never permit the righteous to be moved." In Psalm 37 v 24 it declares that the righteous person will never be totally cast down because the Lord will uphold him with  with His hand and in 2 Corinthians ch 12 v 9 when St Paul was going through personal trouble  the Lord encouraged him by promising "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness". See also Proverbs ch 24 v 16, Romans ch 8 vs 35-39, 2 Peter ch 2 v 9, Psalm 34 vs 17-19, Psalm 46 vs 1-3, and Job ch 1 v 12 and Job ch 2 v 6.

Whenever Christians face problems due to human freewill, the fall of nature, or Satanic activity, three important promises should be remembered.

Firstly, God promises that provided we hold fast to Him, He will bring something good out of that evil and trouble for our benefit. See Romans ch 8 v 28, James ch 1 vs 2, 12, Job ch 42 vs 12-17 and Genesis ch 45 vs 4-8. Being infinitely Holy, God cannot do evil so that good may come (Romans ch 3 v 8), but He can and does bring some good out of evil events and happenings in spite of those events having been contrary to His will and desire.

This teaching lies behind an ancient Chinese story. Once upon a time a farmer had one old horse that he used for tilling his fields. One day the horse escaped into the hills and when the farmer's neighbours heard about his misfortune they sympathized with his loss. The farmer however, believed God could bring good from this sorrow so he said to his neighbours "Good fortune? Bad Fortune? We shall see as time goes on!" A week later the horse returned with a herd of wild horses from the hills! Shortly afterwards when the farmer's son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this was very bad luck, but the farmer remained faithful and said "good fortune? Bad fortune? We shall see as time goes on!" Some weeks later  the army marched into the village and forced all the able-bodied young men to go to fight in a bloody war. When they saw the farmer's son had broken his leg they let him stay. Everyone now marvelled at this turn of events and realised that the farmer's faithfulness had been justified all along and that God really can bring good from evil.

Secondly, God promises that any unjust suffering in this mortal life will be more than recompensed and redressed on the Day of Judgement. Since God is infinitely Holy and Loving He cannot grant freewill without there also being a future time when He "examines and judges" those events which took place as a result of that freewill and the fall of nature. Being the embodiment of Holiness and Love He can neither overlook sin nor unjust suffering and so Scripture promises that God will redress all wrongs in eternity.

Much of what happens in this mortal life is clearly not the will  of God but the Day will come when God will have His say and give His response. It is not His will babies die in famine, it is not His will people are born handicapped, it is not His will the righteous suffer unjustly and it is not His will that people are murdered etc. All this unjust suffering needs to be viewed from the perspective of eternity because it is beyond the grave that God recompenses all such wrongs. Indeed, the Bible actually describes Him as "The God of recompense" in Jeremiah ch 51 v 56 and "The God of Justice" in Isaiah ch 30 v 18.

This recompense beyond the grave will be so accurate and precise that we are assured "not even a hair of your head will be lost" Luke ch 21 v 18. See also Matthew ch 19 vs 27-29, Luke ch 16 v 25, Romans ch 8 v 18, 2 Corinthians ch 4 vs 16- ch 5 v 4, Psalm 10 vs 13-14, Ecclesiastes ch 8 v 12, ch 12  v 14 and Hebrews ch 4 vs 12-13.

Thirdly , God promises that He is a close and Faithful Companion Who suffers when we suffer, grieves when we grieve and Who shares and experiences with us all that we endure. In Isaiah ch 63 v 9 it actually says "In all their afflictions He Himself  was afflicted". There is not a pang of pain on earth which is not shared  in Heaven because God so identifies with suffering people it is as though He Himself  is suffering. See Acts ch 9 vs 4-5, Psalm 34 v 18, Matthew ch 25 vs 35-40, Hebrews ch 13 vs 5-6 and 2 Corinthians ch 1 vs 3-4.

When we suffer as faithful followers of Christ let us take heart that the Lord will bring good out of that trouble; that in eternal life we will be more than repaid and recompensed for what we have endured and that through it all the Lord is a Fellow Companion sharing our sorrows just as though He Himself were suffering.

Life without limbs

Are you suffering and need inspiration? 

Perhaps you would like to encourage a relative or friend who is suffering? 

Probably the most disabled young man I have ever come across is Nick Vujicic. He was born without any arms or legs. His suffering is immense and ongoing but he now runs a worldwide ministry to those who are suffering (in whatever form that suffering may take). When he let Christ into his life, his life changed  dramatically  and he knew he  no longer faced the  trials of  life alone.  His life is an inspiration to us all! His website is  well worth a visit!

www.lifewithoutlimbs.org

God and Natural Disasters

For the benefit of those whose faith has been weakened by liberal theologians failing to offer any clear reason why God would permit natural disasters, the following is what the Bible really teaches:

Contrary to the impression given, human suffering is actually one of the main topics in the Bible, giving clear teaching on why bad things happen, how we are to respond to events and God’s attitude towards them etc.

The Bible warns that disasters occur because the natural laws created by God for this age have been ‘corrupted’ and are in a ‘fallen state.’ The laws by which nature operates, were created good but the corporate nature of human sin effected what God created so that they no longer work as He intended. The result is that during this age eg, we have human bodies susceptible to diseases such as cancer, a weather system which gives some parts of the planet too much rain and other parts none at all, areas which get earthquakes and so on.

Whether an individual is good or bad has no bearing on how they are affected by these natural laws. Ecclesiastes 9:2 states that ‘this is an evil thing that similar events occur to the righteous and wicked alike’ and is contrary to the will of God. Romans 8:20 onwards promises that these natural laws will be restored to their perfect state when this present age has run its course. Isaiah 11 describes what the world will be like after this “the wolf will lie down with the lamb, the lion will eat straw like an ox and nothing will hurt or destroy in all the earth.”

In this age, events often occur contrary to the will of God so Scripture repeatedly reassures us that God will redress all wrongs in eternity. Reminding us that not one sparrow is unloved, it addresses those who suffer unjustly by promising “not a hair of your head will be lost, I will repay says the Lord.” In the parable of the Rich Man and the Beggar in Luke 16 the rich man is addressed with these words “son in your lifetime good things happened to you, and likewise in his life bad things happened to the beggar. Now he is being repaid and comforted.” When we see suffering we need to view it from the ‘eternal perspective’ namely that in eternity God will repay down to the tiniest detail.