The Blessings Of An Earthquake

You must think I am crazy to entitle this blog in such an outlandish way, even insensitive.  We have all seen the anguish, the death, the suffering.  That we know for sure.  But is there a silver lining?   Does, in fact, God work things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His will?

There is a deep truth that our trials and tribulations can be a friend.  John Wright Follette in his book “Broken Bread” states:  “Trouble is not to be reasoned with; she is utterly unreasonable.  She is to be used.”  There is a principle in scripture that God’s judgment, that shaking in our lives is to be used to bring us to Himself.  I am not saying that this earthquake is God’s judgment.  Let’s not try to reason here about this trouble.  But you see it in the book of Judges over and over.  You see it in Hag. 2:6-7, Ps. 78:34-35, Is. 19:22, Ez. 30:19 and many many more.  Have a look and see for yourself.  God often brings revival out of tragedy.  We even see the nation of Israel born out of the Holocaust.

I was brought to tears when I saw reports showing live pictures of a line of believers walking through the rubble strewn streets singing hymns.  They are singing “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine.”  More reports are emerging from the rubble in this tragedy.  The pastor of the Church of God in Port au Prince tells some amazing things.  This is a church of 3000.  When the quake hit there were 250 in the building when it began to shake.  They rushed out, but six did not make it.  Many, including the pastor, lost their homes.  The Lord told her the church was to continue to meet in the midst of the hardships.  So they are meeting daily outside in a tent.  Guess what.  Yes, many are coming to the Lord.  One woman and her eight children gave their lives to the Lord.  Others are returning to Him

The pastor goes on to say “Everyone in our church has been fasting since the day of the earthquake, asking the Lord to restore our nation so that we can one day be a light for Jesus.” Wonderful.  Awesome.  Amazing.  You won’t hear that on BBC, but God IS in the shadows, working, drawing, saving, redeeming.  It is His nature.

Let us join our hearts with the Haitian Christians and fast and pray for revival on that island.  And let us examine ourselves.  Are we prepared to do the same if such a thing ever strikes our land?  Food for thought.  A target to aim for.  Lord help us.  Mature us.