This week we have witnessed from our television screens the horrors of the earthquake disasters in Turkey and Syria. We have felt the darkness surrounding those affected by the tragedy of the catastrophes evolving from the devastation and loss. One can almost imagine the whole of creation groaning and travailing in pain, not only for the earthquake calamity, but also for the world wide conflicts and afflictions. Isaiah 60: 2 prophesied: “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people……”
At the beginning of the creation of God, He spoke into the chaos of darkness and said: “Let there be light’, and there was light”, Genesis 1:3. God continues to shine His light into the dark places in the world through His Church, the true believers and disciples of Jesus Christ. In the first chapter of the gospel of John, it is declared that Jesus is the true Light, who lights every man that comes into the world. Every person has a measure of light in his conscience. One of the two thieves crucified at the same time as Jesus, recognised and responded to that Light in Jesus and requested of Him, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom”, Luke 23:42. Jesus granted his request. The dying thief had no time for sermons, but he recognised his sin and need of a Saviour in his limited understanding. Light enters with humility. His attitude was the opposite of the other thief in rebellion and anger.
Many a man has endeavoured to apply his limited understanding to God, trying to reason out and fathom “natural disasters” such as earthquakes, famines and floods. When I try to understand God, I find myself in a place of darkness, questioning His sovereignty and judging Him from my limited thoughts. God is God. He is not on trial but is ever present to be trusted and worshipped for who He is. Many natural disasters have been exascerbated by men’s attempts to either rectify the planet, destroy the natural ecology for financial gain, and even build homes and structures that do not incorporate the safe building regulations stipulated for specific areas likely to suffer earthquakes, or other environmental dangers. The law of sowing and reaping applies. God’s final divine purposes will never be thwarted by men’s puny interference.
One of the challenges when disaster arrives is to stop trying to apply and justify my believing, but to get alone with the Lord and ask that He rectify my believing to line up with His perspective. I bow and surrender my understanding. Man always wants to understand everything. God wants us to trust Him with the unknown and the unseen. In the fullness of His timing He may grant His Light on situations, but even if He does not, He wants us to walk with Him, trust Him as our lives demonstrate the life of His Son. God’s Light will never be extinguished.
Jesus declared: “You are the light of the world……..Let your light so shine before men……and glorify your Father who is in heaven”, Matthew 5: 14-16. He has given us a commission to be His light in this dark world to be a signpost to His Cross, to extend His kingdom on earth.
Isaish 60: 1-2 “Arise, shine, for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people, but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you”.
Let your light shine!
Photo by Cássio Batista on Unsplash
