WHEN CALAMITY STRIKES

We constantly hear news of natural disasters around the world, but calamity strikes close to home, it affects us more. What can be a biblical response to calamity and natural disaster?

1. A corrupted world:is the reason for natural disasters. Though there are multiple scientific reasons for natural disasters, the root cause of it all is a corrupted world. The perfect Eden was corrupted when Adam sinned. God responds to the sin of original man by not just cursing the couple but also the ground,

“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life——.”(Genesis 3:17) Paul adds, “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in the hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”(Romans 8:20,21)

The Bible is clear that the physical earth reels under the onslaught of the spiritual decay of man, its only temporal hope being the salvation of mankind. Eventually, this corrupted world will be replaced by one that is free from the stain of sin. (Revelation 21)

2. A call to repentance:Healing of the land requires a return to the Lord.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.(2Chronicles 7:14).

Prosperity has a way of making man forget God, calamity has a way of making him return. Man can patch the wounds caused by natural disasters, only God can heal the land. And healing will not arrive lest man genuinely returns in repentance to God and makes a commitment to follow him.

3. An opportunity to serve:is what every calamity presents to those who can. John addresses this matter,

“ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”(1John 3:17)

The Bible encourages us to be at the forefront of rescue and relief, opening our resources to those in need, making the most of the opportunity to serve, doing all as though unto the Lord.

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