God and Natural Calamities
In the beginning, God created our world perfect or “very good” (Genesis 1:31). He also created humans with the freedom to choose good or evil (Deuteronomy 30:19). Unfortunately, humans chose to believe the devil (Genesis 3:6) and thus allowed him to demonstrate his evil plans in our planet. The result is the disasters, calamities, and destruction we see around in our world today.
The Lord could not cancel men’s choices of doing evil. Therefore, God is not responsible for man’s wrong choices nor the natural calamities on our planet that are the consequences of man’s sins. Evil does not come because God is unfair. Evil comes because man rejects God’s good plans for him. “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:14).
But God, in His infinite mercy, took upon Himself the burden of saving humans from the results of their bad choices. He offered His only begotten Son to die instead of men to carry the punishment of their guilt. Jesus died so we can go free. All those that accept God’s plan and receive His gift of salvation through Jesus will be saved (John 1:12) and will have eternal life in a perfect and safe world (1 Corinthians 2:9).
So, the only One that truly suffered in this whole story is God Himself. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16); “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
God does not tempt humans with natural calamities (James 1:13). Humans have brought this state of darkness upon themselves by their disobedience (Genesis 1:27, 31; 3:15–19; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 6:23). God simply uses these calamities to allow the human character to grow spiritually towards perfection (1 Peter 4:12, 13).
Even the bad trials of this life can help push the Christian forward. And during these difficulties, the believer is under God’s loving care. For “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
