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Hurricane Katrina
by Micky Galloway
(NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana) “With hundreds of thousands left homeless and a rising death toll, some are saying Hurricane Katrina could be the worst natural disaster in our nation's history” (Foxnews.com). Monday, August 29 has many dimensions as a day of national tragedy, a day of infamy, a day of terror, a day of grief, and another day which shocked the entire world. Because of T.V., more people in the world actually witnessed the horror of this natural disaster and the horror of the looting than perhaps any other in history since 9/11. It is a day which in some ways changed the history of our nation and perhaps the history of the world. As we reflect on the meaning of this day, the most important lesson we can learn is that God still rules even in times of national tragedy. Times of tragedy challenge us to a greater faith in God. This horrible natural disaster, as well as the violence involved in the looting of hurricane victims, is yet another clear and sobering reminder of the presence and power of evil, of the fragile nature of life and of the importance of always being right with God. Must a tragedy occur for us to be reminded to keep our priorities in order and make necessary preparations to meet our God (cf Amos 4:6)? What should all people do in the face of calamity? What can Christians do in the face of evil?
First, let us be reminded that evil exists in this world. God has not promised that calamity will not enter our lives. Evil is given fertile soil in which to grow and flourish whenever people through ignorance forget and reject God. It was true during Jeremiah’s day as the people “walked after vanity,” “have forsaken me,” and have “forgotten me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:5,13,32). This was also true in the days of the apostle Paul as he described the wickedness of the people in Romans 1:20-32. However, God’s sovereign control over nature and history is clearly seen, how He infallibly works out His purposes through and in spite of His free-will creatures (see Esther 4:12-14). His sovereignty permits those things that are according to His purpose and prevents that which He does not purpose. God’s providence is possible because of His trustworthy character, His power, His knowledge, His goodness, and His wisdom. In this we see how our sovereign Ruler is worthy of all our praise, thanksgiving, wonder, and trust. “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens; and His sovereignty rules over all” (Psalms 103:19).
Secondly, those in sin must repent and return to God. In Amos 4:6-12, God used natural calamities to punish and/or turn his people back to Him. Perhaps one of the greatest lessons that we need to be reminded of is that “Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). For many years in America we have been killing thousands of unborn babies in defense of our own immorality. We have allowed those who do evil to escape with little or no consequence. Let us be reminded that no nation which harbors and fosters sin will stand - not even America. The scriptures teach, “Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah…” (Psalms 33:12). As a nation, we must turn back to God and remember that our coins bear the inscription “In God we trust” and our Pledge of Allegiance includes the words, “Under God.” These words should excite meaning in the heart of a forgetful nation.
Thirdly, let us learn to resist evil and do good. Amos said to the people of Israel, “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be with you, as ye say. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph” (Amos 5:14-15). The apostle Paul likewise said, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9). We must pray for our leaders during such times of adversity, that peace and justice, cool heads and wisdom may prevail. I Timothy 2:1-2 says, “I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.” Let us pray for those who suffer loss and do what we can to relieve their suffering. Let us support the government’s efforts to execute justice upon evil doers (Romans 13:1-5) and let us learn to “be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Finally, even in the midst of turmoil, we must learn to wait upon the Lord. Isaiah said, “Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and for that he is strong in power, not one is lacking. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from Jehovah, and the justice (due) to me is passed away from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:26-31). In the face of tragedy, loss of property or life, those who trust in the Lord do not fear because the Lord is with them (Psalms 23:4). “In the day of adversity consider” (Ecclesiastes 7:14). This is a time of national and personal reflection for each one of us. No matter how busy we are with the affairs of life, God gets our attention at such a time as this. The question is, will we learn the lessons God intended, or will we soon resume our normal activities and forget God again? This is a time to learn to trust in God as never before! The wise man said, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7). How many times have we read or heard such passages, but how much have we taken them to heart?
“What Is The Kingdom Of God Like?” - Luke 13:18-19
by Chris Simmons
Beginning in Luke 13:10, we read where Jesus was criticized for healing a woman on the Sabbath. Jesus then identifies the hypocrisy of the synagogue official (and the rest of the “opponents” who were with him) which resulted in them being put to shame while the rest of the multitude was “rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.” At the heart of the hypocrisy of those who opposed Jesus was a lack of understanding about the nature of the kingdom that Jesus came to establish, because verse 18 begins with the transition word “therefore” followed by the question, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it?” Not only then, but now as well, many are ignorant of the nature of the kingdom and lacking the true knowledge of what it is like.
When it comes to having a proper understanding of the kingdom of God, it is important that we remember Psalms 119:160 that teaches that “the sum of Thy word is truth.” In order to understand the truth regarding God’s kingdom, we need to study the “sum of Thy word” in regards to all that it teaches about the kingdom. Beginning in the context of this question (Luke 13:18-21), Jesus teaches of the humble beginnings of the kingdom that would continue to grow throughout its existence by comparing it to a very small mustard seed that grows into a large tree that provides an abiding shelter. Then He teaches us what the kingdom of God is like, by comparing it to leaven that continues to spread and grow throughout the dough in which it is placed. But there is much more that the Bible teaches us about the kingdom and what it is like.
Perhaps above all else, both then and now, many are ignorant of the spiritual nature of the kingdom. In John 18:36 we read, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” During Christ’s time upon Earth, the Jews, and even His chosen apostles, had expectations regarding a physical, earthly kingdom though Jesus clearly stated otherwise. The Pharisees had asked Jesus about the physical signs that such an earthly kingdom was coming and Jesus responded by saying, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20-21). After the resurrection of Jesus, the apostles themselves indicated their misunderstanding of what the kingdom of God is like, when they asked Him “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).
The fact that the Lord’s kingdom is not of this world and that its character is spiritual in nature also dictates that the purpose and work of the kingdom is also spiritual rather than physical. The desire for a physical kingdom and a physical king is clearly seen in John chapter 6. After the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Jesus perceived that it was the intention of the people to forcibly make Him their earthly King (verse 15). This was proven when the multitude followed Jesus to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and Jesus then said, “truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled” (verse 26). Certainly the mindset was, any man who could provide all of their physical needs should be their physical king. But that was not the nature of the kingdom, that was not the nature of the king and that was not the work that God intended for His kingdom to accomplish. Is it not clear that God’s kingdom, the church, is a spiritual entity with spiritual work to accomplish? Rather than the spiritual work of preaching the gospel to the lost and building up the body of Christ, denominations today illustrate their ignorance of the true nature of God’s kingdom by devoting themselves to the physical work of feeding the hungry of the world, secular education, recreation activities, medical concerns, housing needs for the elderly and orphans, and a wide variety of other tasks that are physical in nature rather than spiritual in nature. Though these works have their place is society, they are nowhere exemplified or authorized in the New Testament scriptures. Paul wrote in Romans 14:17, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
The spiritual nature of the kingdom is seen in the fact that the human methods of establishing a kingdom were not used. Jesus didn’t establish His kingdom by first acquiring great financial resources. In fact we read in scripture that it was just the opposite – so much so that in Luke 9:58 Jesus stated that He did not even have anywhere to lay His head. Nor did Jesus establish His kingdom with physical force and might utilizing the weapons of earthly armies. As noted earlier in John 18:36, Jesus stated that if He had come to establish a physical kingdom, then His disciples would have been utilizing earthly weapons to fight a physical war. Jesus called upon Pilate to take note of the established fact that His disciples at no time during His ministry ever sought to fight a physical battle on His behalf. It was according to prophesy that His kingdom would not be established through an earthly battle (Zechariah 9:9-10; Isaiah 2:2-4). Noticeably absent in the New Testament scriptures, is the establishment of a physical headquarters building or other physical evidences of an earthly government. Nor in laying the foundation for the kingdom did Jesus employ the political tactics of men to gain control and preeminence among men but rather taught and demonstrated the principal that great men serve and honor others rather than seeking to be served and honored (cf Matthew 20:20-28; Luke 14:7-14; John 13:3-17). Finally, there was no effort on the part of Jesus to establish an earthly succession of leaders. Rather, Jesus promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them and reveal all truth to them while He continued to reign in the kingdom at the right hand of God (John 14:26; 16:13; Ephesians 1:21-23). These points help to illustrate the difference between a spiritual and a physical kingdom.
May we always “contend earnestly” for the true spiritual nature and work of the kingdom of God.