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Woodstock Mountain Bike Fellowship

Lessons From Earthquakes

May 20, 2008

In just a few months, China plans to open its doors to the world by hosting the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. A key intention of these games is to expose China to the world as a progressive and prosperous nation, with the communist party controlling their rise to power and eventual global domination. I've had the opportunity to visit China twice, and it is truly amazing to see the highly populated cities and endless seas of skyscrapers.

But it didn't take too long for each of us to learn a lesson about national power. In just a few short minutes, a severe earthquake (now revised upward to a rating of 8.0) shook the western part of the country and crumbled hundreds of buildings in Beichuan and the surrounding towns. As of today, there are over 30,000 confirmed dead with many more still buried. The entire country felt the physical rumbling, and now, they are feeling the rumbling of a massive humanitarian and economic crisis.

In Beijing, the National Stadium known as the "Bird's Nest" was agitated by the distant earthquake, but found to be safe and sound after inspections. This "crown jewel" of the Olympic venue was designed to withstand magnitude 8 earthquakes, under the assumption that such quakes are highly improbable.

If you're like me, you feel great sorrow and pain in the wake of this overwhelming disaster. It's hard to imagine how horrific it must be to watch your entire apartment building crumble to the ground, burying your family and entire community. I'll be the first to admit that there are many questions I cannot answer at times of disaster. But like most people, I have to wonder if there is a message for us in earthquakes.

The most obvious lesson has to do with the temporal nature of our possessions (Luke 12:15-21), our plans (James 4:13-15), and our governments (Isaiah 40:15-17). Regardless of how strong and prosperous you might seem (personally or nationally), everything that you possess - physical stuff or loved ones - can disappear in a single minute.

I'm also reminded of the first mention of earthquake in the Bible. After his battle with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, Elijah escaped into the desert of Horeb. Afraid and depressed, he complains to God regarding his troubles, to which God promises a unique encounter (1 Kings 19:11-13). Like Elijah, we are often too stressed or depressed to slow down and seek God. So we complain and struggle through life, expecting that, if God wanted to get something through to us, He would do so in a big and noticeable way. We're waiting for earthquakes, wind, and fire (like an old rock band) to get our attention. But we won't find God in those ways and in those places. We need to sit quietly before Him and calm our spirits when we seek Him - alone (Psalm 37:5-7). If we hope to nurture a relationship with Him by just going to church or Bible study, we will always be distant until something catastrophic comes. And then, it will be too late.

We see another earthquake in the book of Acts (Acts 16:25-30). Paul and Silas had been beaten without cause and without a trial, had their feet stretched apart in stocks, and were locked in the inner prison. In spite of all this, they were praying aloud and singing to God while the prisoners listened (remember, people are watching you as you go through trials). God sent a targeted earthquake that opened the doors and broke the chains, but preserved the lives of the prisoners, leading the jailer to freedom. Sometimes, it takes an earthquake to get our attention (Matthew 27:54).

The greatest earthquake of all will happen at the end of the age. As God brings judgment upon the earth, He pours out his wrath on men who have chosen to totally reject His offer of salvation (Revelation 16:17-21). It is interesting that this judgment does not result in repentance, but in blasphemy.

Sometimes during times of crisis, people rise up to say that God is judging the sinfulness of people. And it is indeed true that God judges sinful people, both here on earth (Deuteronomy 28:15), and certainly, in the life to come. But when it comes to God's judgment of sinners on earth, I personally believe that such events are rare, and although we might not want to admit it, such judgment will most likely be directed at disobedient Christians than toward pagans (1 Peter 4:17).

Jesus addresses this bad theology in Luke 13:1-5. When asked whether two separate groups of people who had suffered tragedies were being punished because of their sin, Jesus clearly says that they were not, making it clear what we should learn from such times of crisis: unless we repent, we will all perish. He then tells a story (Luke 13:6-9) to show the danger of avoiding warnings to repent. God has planted and blessed us, but a time is coming where we will be held accountable for what we have done with what He has given us.

During times of crisis, another type of bad theology often emerges. People will dismiss God from the picture because it is easier on our thinking, saying that He has nothing to do with it. But let me bring you back to the Scripture, reminding you what this book tells us about the true God. He is not ignorant regarding the things that go on in this world, and since He is aware of every sparrow that falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29), we know full well that He is aware of every person who perished in the recent earthquake before it happened. We also know that from the foundation of this world that He created, He is the only God and that He is in control (Isaiah 46:9,10). We know from the book of Proverbs that He is in control of even the smallest of things (Proverbs 16:33).

Upon hearing about the current crisis in Myanmar (and the possibility that another typhoon was heading their way), Timothy asked Susan whether God was in control of the weather. Recently while reading "Desiring God," I remembered the words of John Piper: "The wind belongs to the God whether it comforts or whether it kills." (Psalm 135:5-7).

I cannot give an answer to the man that asks why God would allow such a tragedy: I am not God (Isaiah 55:8,9). If you don't take anything else away from tonight's study, remember and take comfort in this: He is the God who has made promises to you and me that He will keep and nothing can stop Him. When your world is shaking and you cannot figure out why, remember that He is the only unshakeable Rock (Luke 6:46-48). Go beyond a shallow Christianity and dig deep, laying your life's foundation upon Him.

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