Is our sin the cause of these natural disasters?
That’s a BIG question, I know.
Recently, I worked on a reading assignment with the book “Where Was God?” by Erwin W. Lutzer. One thing he brings up is the idea that because we are sinners, we now live in a sinful, imperfect environment, hence, the disasters.
“…Paul then connects the curse of nature with man’s sin. He points out that man’s state of sin was his own doing, but God subjected nature to the curse even though it had no part in the decision: ‘For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice.’ Mankind, now tainted with sin, could not live in a perfect sinless environment. So Creation became an impersonal victim of Adam’s personal choice to rebel.”
So, do you think that when we see the devastation that Harvey, Irma, Jose, Katrina, and so many other natural disasters bring, are a reflection of what God sees in us? Or maybe what we should see in ourselves?
The author also spoke about how nature is both evil and good. After a blistering snow storm in Michigan, the next morning, the sun reflects off the snow creating a glistening wonderland and everything is still and beautiful. Or after a tornado, everything is calm and unmoving. Or we could get really clichè and talk about how rain always comes before a rainbow.
Is this not like us as humans? I can tell you that I have had many days where I feel like those dark clouds: swarming, combining and planning a storm. then, the very next day or even hour – especially after I have some heart -to -heart with Jesus- I feel like the sun is shining brighter and warmer just for me…
“But we are a mixture of good and evil, and all too often evil takes the upper hand. Nature is therefore a mirror in which we see ourselves.”
I have heard and read many times that nature has no feelings. It doesn’t care. It does not stop for someone we deem worthy of survival, it does not avoid the rich, most developed cities. It doesn’t feel for the poverty-stricken villages. It just plows through hitting and damaging anything that gets in its way.
What Does Nature Have to Do With Us?
So then, what if this is also our reaction or feelings toward our sins? That we are indifferent to them. We don’t care, we just keep moving on damaging ourselves and others around us without possibly knowing or even caring?
It felt like a jab to the heart when I thought about this. The idea that our sins have the potential to create a hurricane inside us and around us and we may not know or care. It’s not an easy topic to think about and maybe it feels like a stretch to some. But it made me think.
With all of these natural disasters hitting so close to home for some of us, it’s important to recognize that yes, we do live in a fallen world. One where nature can destroy just about anything at any moment. However, there is still good. God is still good. These things pass and we rise from it each time until we get the privilege to walk into eternity.
My heart and prayers go out to the people affected by any of the disasters around the world.
I’m interested in how you feel about this author’s opinion… I’m not entirely sure myself but would love to hear your thoughts!
Until next time,
Aubree
(God, I pray for whoever reads this that You use these words for their good and for their needs specifically. And that anything I might have said that does not align with Your Words and beliefs that You change it so that it does.)
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