The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan causes us to consider a few important questions. Why would a loving, all-powerful God allow such tragedies? Is humanity being punished for sinful behavior? Is this the work of our enemy? Actually, no earthquakes in the Bible are attributed to the devil; however, many are ascribed to God. This is because God is in complete control of the universe. He commands even the winds and water to obey His voice (Luke 8:25). He directs the wind to blow and the waters to flow (Psa.147:15-18). He pierces down at the earth and it shudders. He embraces the mountains and they smoke (Psa. 104:32). He shakes our planet out of its place (Job 9:6). If the demons try to usurp his control, He orders even the unclean spirits to obey Him (Mark 1:27). Earthquakes are ultimately from the Lord. Nature does not dictate its own will. God does everything well with a significant purpose (Isa. 31:2).
The prophet Amos said of God: “Shall there be evil in a city and the Lord hath not done it?” God allowed many catastrophes (famine, drought, plagues, etc.) upon the nation of Israel over an extended period of time to teach several lessons. The purposes behind the Japan devastation, and many others, will remain hidden to us until we are able to fully comprehend them at the end of the age. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God” (Deut. 29:29). The Apostle Paul said of God: “How unsearchable are His judgments…For who hath known the mind of the Lord” (Rom. 11:33-34)?
On the other hand, there are some possible reasons revealed in the Word of God for this recent disaster. One particular minister gave the following possibilities (JM):
1. God taking thousands of lives is a blaring assertion that “The Lord gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21). We must all be reminded that life belongs to God and is on loan from Him (Luke 12:20).
2. The end-time earthquakes in the book of Revelation are meant as calls to repentance to warn people who deny Christ that a day is coming when unbelievers will cry to the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of God (Rev. 6:16).
3. The power felt in an earthquake reveals the fearful magnificence of God. This is a great gift since, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7). Most of society does not fear God and therefore lacks a personal (saving) knowledge of Him.
4. When the earth shakes under one’s feet there is a dramatic sensing that there is no place to flee. In most disasters, the earth is the one thing that stands firm when wind, fire and floods are raging. But where does one turn when the earth itself is unsafe? Answer- God!
Pastor John & Shawn
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Pastor's background/ministry
- New Life Bible Church
- I received my BA and MA degrees (Bible, 1983; Pastoral Studies, 1988) from Bob Jones University, and served as an assistant to the Dean of Men for four years. I then served as senior pastor at Faith Bible Church, Mt. Joy, PA for almost 14 years. At that time, I left, along with 6 seed families, to plant Harvest Bible Church in Lancaster, PA. God blessed this work abundantly, and it became indigenous in one year. HBC continued to grow numerically and spiritually. I resigned on March 25, 2007, and Pastor Jon Walters was voted in a few weeks later. We praise God for the smooth transition. I am working on my Doctorate of Sacred Ministry degree (DSM) from Northland International University, and I am also a Chaplain at a chemical dependency/mental health hospital. I have an incredible wife (Shawn), three loving children (Morgan, Meredith, & Micah), and a terrific dog (Chutney).