First Chinese Southern Baptist Church of San Diego

WHY DO TRAGEDIES HAPPEN AND HOW ARE WE TO COPE WITH THEM?

We live in this world that sometimes we have tragedies. If we drink and drive, and we have an accident. We feel bad but we can understand that. But if we did not drink, and someone else drank, and hit us, we not only feel bad. Also we ask why? That is to say, some tragedies we can accept, others we cannot, because we do not feel those tragedies should be happening to us. So, we say why? why now? why us? Whether we believe in God or not, at those times, we direct our questions to God. Now is such a time. What happened in New York and Washington D.C. have killed so many people. The people who were in the WTC in New York, in the Pentagon in Washington D.C., on the planes involved, as well as many rescue personnel, they all lost their lives so meaninglessly. To the society and the communities, their deaths were a big loss and to their loved ones and families, their deaths were devestating. So, man is at the ends of his means, he comes to God and ask why? This is very much like Job in the Old Testament.

The truth of the matter is God did not engineered this tragedy, men did. Much like the earthquakes and tornadoes that killed many around the world, God did not make them happen, the natural laws of the Universe did. This tragedy saddens us more because it is the result of hatred. At a micro level, God may have spared some individuals who on any other day would have been in that building but was not for some reson. Certainly God because of His attribute did not direct someone to be there at the time. If we were to look at the iindividual cases, we know the victims were there for a reason, some went there just to rescue after the first plane hit the WTC but were killed when the second building was hit. So we must recognize that this tragedy was caused by some very hateful men we call terrorists. The victims happened to be there at the time, some with very noble causes. We certainly cannot blame God, If anything, it is the society, the System, the mankind. Just like what is in Ecclesiastes 1:2 in the Bible says, "Meaningless, meaningless. Utterly meaningless. Everything is meaningless." Isn't that the most accurate conclusion.

So, how are we to cope with this? Christians know that life is short and tragedies happen. In fact, not only man's life is short, he has no idea when his time is up. So he wants to make use of his time. To one who believes there is no God, he may want to wine and dine. But, we know he is not happy. Many people who have taken that paths practically waste their lives away. The Christians know that the Bible teaches that God is light and God is love. We as Christians should try to spread the light so people do not have to be in sin in the darkness where killing and all the evil goes on. Christians also learn to love even the people who do us wrong. Forgiveness ultimately will set us free. Some of us have lost a loved one and then he is inprisoned by the unforgiving spirit. Christians learn to love and thereby free themselves from the bondage of hatred. Finally, the Bible teaches when we lose a loved one, let us thank God for the time we have had that person. So while we treasure the memory but let go of the hatred. Meantime make good use of our lives so someone else can have a better today. The Bible in 1 Thess. says, "Rejoice always, Pray ceaselessly. And give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ in you.." May God bless you.

If you are not a Christian yet, won't you come to God. We love to have you worship with us in our Church. God is waiting for you. We like to pray with you, Won't you contact us.

Pastor Sun

Back

Copyright (c) 2002, First Chinese Southern Baptist Church of San Diego