The unspeakable tragedy that was endured by the families of the men who died in the coal mining tragedy in West Virginia will undoubtedly expose their faith in God to ridicule and scorn by some unbelievers, and may even shake the faith of some believers. How could a loving God allow the chain of events to occur in such a cruel way where the families were led to believe that their loved ones were alive only to find out that all except one was dead?
This has to be one of the mysteries of God that is hard to figure out. However what kind of faith would we have if we are to turn on God because we don’t understand?
Man has an enemy in the devil who is trying to destroy us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. His relentless attacks never cease. Yet by and large we get though each day unscathed! We do so only by the hand of a loving, protecting and faithful God.
Always remember, man is what is wrong in the world, not God. We are directly or indirectly responsible for the tragedies that occur in this world, not God. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23 NIV). King David of Israel shows us a great example of how we should approach this reality: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity…Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:1-4,9-10 NIV)
I ask God to show His mercy to the families of the victims. To let them not lose faith, but to renew their faith as an example to a skeptical and unbelieving world. To remind them that all of their lost family members who truly believed in Jesus is now at peace with Him. As the apostle Paul said: to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)
This has to be one of the mysteries of God that is hard to figure out. However what kind of faith would we have if we are to turn on God because we don’t understand?
Man has an enemy in the devil who is trying to destroy us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. His relentless attacks never cease. Yet by and large we get though each day unscathed! We do so only by the hand of a loving, protecting and faithful God.
Always remember, man is what is wrong in the world, not God. We are directly or indirectly responsible for the tragedies that occur in this world, not God. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23 NIV). King David of Israel shows us a great example of how we should approach this reality: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity…Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:1-4,9-10 NIV)
I ask God to show His mercy to the families of the victims. To let them not lose faith, but to renew their faith as an example to a skeptical and unbelieving world. To remind them that all of their lost family members who truly believed in Jesus is now at peace with Him. As the apostle Paul said: to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)