Transformed Women For Christ

As we look at the world around us we see wars, earthquakes, floods, fires and many disastrous events taking place. Lives are lost and nations mourn. The media is quick to sympathize and of course so are we. Our secular friends will, however, cast blame along with their sympathy. Are we guilty of doing the same?

As we awoke to hearing the declaration of war from Israel, we are called to remember that this was the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War (1973). It was almost an expected scenario. Radical, violent Muslims look for dates like these to attack. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar. Egypt and Syria joined forces and surprise attacked Israel on Oct. 6, 1973 along the Suez Canal. The Israelis were outnumbered, unprepared, and slaughtered, although they did ultimately win. Many claimed that intelligence officials had plenty of warning, just as they are saying of the current war today. (What does blame accomplish except to stir up anger and increase strife?) Israel does have a very sophisticated military, one of the best in the world. It is unfortunate that the majority in Israel claim to be Jewish via ancestry only and are otherwise secular.

Only a month earlier, Sept. 6 of this year, Morocco experienced a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that took the lives of almost 3,000 people. Earthquakes in this region are rare. Morocco is a Muslim (Sunni) country in Northwest Africa.

Just yesterday a powerful earthquake also rocked Afghanistan and well over 2,000 people have died. Afghanistan is home to the Taliban and is predominantly Sunni Islam.

I could make a list of countries and states experiencing fires, floods, and every type of disaster. The Bible is quite clear of the future. We are told plainly that we live in the last days. I know what some of you will say, “You Christians always say these are the end times, but it’s been over 2000 years! Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, disasters, they happen all the time. This is nothing new!” I hear you loud and clear, friend. I do understand your point of view and I respect you for it. Do I disagree with you? Yes. I do. I believe the Bible. It is the inerrant Word of God and it has never been wrong. Our timing is not God’s timing and His timing on prophecy has always been spot on.

Every day is a spiritual battle. 3000 people dying from a rare massive earthquake is not a small occurrence. Did you also believe that the Sept. 11, 2001 death toll, which was also almost 3000 people was not a spiritually-fueled event? Everything is being weaved by unseen forces, whether Yahweh or His enemies.

Maybe you’re sitting there wondering what human violence has to do with earthquakes. Fair. When reading through the Bible, God does not work solely through man or solely through nature to mold events and timelines. During the Israelites’ time in Egypt the Lord brought plagues, locusts, and frogs (etc.) to Pharoah and his people. Moses was used by God. He also hardened Pharoah’s heart. He used both man and nature. When Elijah stood on Mt. Carmel and called fire down, brutally humiliating Jezebel’s prophets and Ahab, God used man (Elijah) and nature (fire). Our God is not limited. We live in a supernatural world.

As stated/asked from the beginning, what do we do all the blame that has been cast? What do we say about the rampant wickedness of men? The Hebrew for ‘Hamas’ is violence so it’s easy to see how they are an enemy to God’s chosen people. In the Old Testament they were the Philistines whom Samson defeated in Judges 15. They are a people devoted to darkness. Hamas is made up of Sunni Muslims, a very aggressive and violent sect of Islam. While we should pray for those affected by the earthquakes and the wars, we should remember to pray for the souls of those causing the evil. Pray for them to seek the Truth, to open their eyes, ears, hearts and minds to the Truth. Pray for them to accept Him, Yahweh, and follow Jesus Christ. Pray for them to repent.

Psalm 37:12-15 “The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.” NIV

How do we still love people who kidnap and parade around grandmothers and dead Israeli soldiers as trophies? Such inhuman acts are clearly striking the righteous anger of God. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6:12 KJV One of the most understated verses of the Bible because it is so little spoken of in churches today. Satan is not alone. When he left God’s presence he made sure his deceiving tongue brought followers to his side. These demonic entities are out in our world causing as much chaos, confusion, church splits, conflicts, and wars as they can. They whisper in the ears of leaders with the goal to lead astray any and all from the arms of Jesus. Can we love the people who accept these lies? Can we pray a genuine heartfelt prayer for those who are dehumanizing others? Are we able to look past the action and see the soul underneath that needs freedom in Christ Jesus?

If God gives us forgiveness, we should be able to forgive anyone anything.

If God gives us love unconditionally, then we should be able to give love unconditionally.

What does that mean for us? It means we do not condone the action of violence, but we love the person. We love our enemies because we are commanded by Christ to do so. Matt 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” ESV Yes, it is easier said than done, but it is a challenge we are expected to take as disciples of Christ. We are ambassadors of Christ and that means we bring the salt and the light to everyone. John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

When on the phone with a close relative after the Moroccan earthquake, the person was uncaring about the people there because they are Muslim. This person is not Christian either but rather a secular American that loves their country and holds conservative values. So close and yet, so far away. I had to respond to this tactfully. This is one area that is a struggle for everyone, Christian or not. I’ve had Christians ask how could we have forgiven Dahmer or John Wayne Gacy. The simple answer is: we do everything through Jesus Christ. He is our strength. He is our power. He empowers us to be able to forgive. We still put violent criminals in jail, yes. We still hand over speeding tickets to offenders. We still follow our justice system, because Jesus did not come to overthrow government. He came to tell us how to live. He came to redeem us. We love the person, not the action. No one is righteous. No one is worthy. We are all sinners.

As mothers we discipline our children when they disobey. Why? We do so because we love them and discipline puts them on the tract to better character traits. Love disciplines. Love keeps others accountable. Do we forgive them after? Yes. Could these natural disasters be God’s discipline for the Sunnis? Possibly. We will never know the mind of God. What I do know is that He is working. He is making all things work together for good. We can’t always see it, we don’t always understand it, but I know there is always a plan.

Pray for Israel, that they would come to follow Jesus Christ and lean on Him for wisdom and guidance. Pray for those taken captive and the families of those who have been killed. Pray for Hamas, that they would come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and lay down their weapons. Pray that Hezbollah does not take advantage of the situation. Pray for those who have been affected by the earthquakes, that they are given provisions and safe shelter. Pray for God to soften hearts. Rom 8:26 “..the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Pray.

Christian, you are the example. We are not called to a comfy, easy, complacent life. We will be mocked, scoffed at, persecuted and laughed at for our stance. Stand firm in the Lord. He is enough. He is more than enough.

Rom 5:1-5 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into his grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”