Bible Articles

C A R L   B.   G A R N E R GOD'S 'IMPERFECT' WORLD We are familiar with the names of places in which great natural disasters have taken place. Texas has seen powerful storms take their toll in life and property. California has had equally devastating earthquakes and mud slides. Floods, drought, famine and disease are often in the news of our day, and they raise questions in the minds of thoughtful people. Why do these things happen? Why does God allow these things to happen? Just about the time we think we have everything under our control, the power of God's creation seems to rise up and put us in our place. One writer questioned God's motive: "We can control the temperature in our homes and speak by way of satellite and computer to millions of people, preventing or waging war thereby. We can cure many of the diseases known to man. We can travel from east coast to west coast in just hours. We can fire missiles that pinpoint a target less than twelve inches across. We have the technology that allows us to know the exact spot on this earth we exist and the nearest local beer parlor. We can send rockets to Mars and back. Then why can't God control his imperfect world? Why floods and famines? Why these disasters that overwhelm us every year?" It is true that those of us living today have seen more momentous changes than any generation in history. But we still cannot control the natural elements. We have gone from the horse and buggy to space ships; from muzzle-loaders to nuclear warheads; from carrier pigeons to the internet and satellites; but we still cannot stop the winds, rain and temperature. Why, some ask, does God allow such natural disasters as the tornadoes that killed close to fifty people in the southeast this last week? Could God not have found a better way of producing changes in the weather and the seasons than such violent outbursts as we see every year? Is there a Bible answer to these vital questions? When God created this world and the universe, He created a perfect place for man to live. He placed man in an environment in which there was no pain, suffering or death. The climate on earth was uniform, and man had dominion over this world. Genesis 2:4-6 tells us, "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground." Note the changes that accompanied this event. When man was created, he was given the power to "subdue" the earth, to have "dominion" over it, Genesis 1:26-28. However, when sin entered the world, man's dominion was modified, and the earth had a measure of power over man, Genesis 3:17-19. When the universal flood of Noah's day inundated the earth, an evident climate change took place in which "the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened," Genesis 7:11. Evidently this signaled the beginning of current weather patterns, including pressure changes, temperature, wind flow, etc. But why put in place a pattern of weather changes that may eventuate in disasters that destroy property, alter the direction of lives, and result in pain, sorrow and death? There is no single passage in which God explains the "why" of all His ways. Romans 11:33 says, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor?" Is it not presumptuous for man to try to "explain" the ways of God that He says are "past finding out." But it is not presumptuous for us to search the scripture for answers that God has already given. This we know; man is stubborn, rebellious and single-minded in his quest for health and wealth. It's hard to get his attention. Pain and sorrow seem to be the only way God can get man's attention (see Psalm 51, 2 Corinthians 12:7f, Job 6). More than one of us has been shaken to the point of self-examination upon being diagnosed with disease or experiencing the loss of a loved one. Does God deliberately allow the possibility of natural disasters as a means of reminding man of his own limitations compared to God's power? "But does this not bring hardship and heartache for some?" Yes, but remember that our sojourn on earth is only temporary, and we constantly must be reminded of the preparation needed for that eternal home. Death is the destiny of us all. While earthly possessions and associates have value, we "desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be their God: for he hath prepared for them a city," Hebrews 11:16. The love of God has prepared us a place of exquisite beauty and joy; heaven. An ancient philosopher said: "Anything that makes me long for heaven is a blessing." God is not on trial here; we are! This world with its "imperfections" is the perfect place for testing, proving and determining our fitness for heaven. It is working just as God intended it to work.