A planned disaster

The news photo showed bodies strewn in the hallways of the school. Destruction was everywhere. Some appeared dead, others moaned in pain, crying out for help. But, no one was really suffering because it was a drill, a planned ‘disaster,’ to help emergency responders prepare. They had to deal with the situation as if it was real, like lives were on the line.  

The Bible speaks about another kind of planned disaster. It is no drill. It is God’s response to those who continue to wreck the lives of others. "Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance. Therefore, the LORD says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity." (Micah 2:1-3, NIV)  Are you shocked to read that God holds evil people accountable, that He works actively against those who oppress others?

Some Christians skip over a third of the Scriptures, those books in their Bibles between the Psalms and the Gospels, when it comes to their readings.The writings of the prophets- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Zechariah, Malachi –are some of the most difficult passages to read with understanding. The thundering denunciations of sin, the descriptions of judgments to come are unpleasant. How could a loving God cause sorrow and suffering?  Because He is a just God, too.  The people who first heard the prophets preach did not like their message, either. “Don’t say such things,” the people respond. “Don’t prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!” (Micah 2:6, NLT)  Oh, but they did.  Because of the injustice and rebellion that persisted in spite of His invitation to repentance, He removed His blessing and the Babylonians destroyed the nation.

Christian, it is not pleasant to think of God’s judgment, but we must. To respond to the warning that He will call us to account by insisting, “Oh, but grace is my strength. He is ever loving, ever forgiving” is to tell only a half of the truth.  He is a loving and forgiving God for those who respond to His Spirit, who turn to walk  in obedience. But, when we are willful, when we choose to serve Self, He will be just.  Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia is centered on the amazing grace of our loving God.  It teaches the folly of relying on our own goodness as the basis of acceptance with God. And, it includes this direction, too. "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up." (Galatians 6:7-9, NLT)  That appeal is made to Christians, not the godless.

One of the reasons we come to the Lord’s Table in Communion on a regular basis is to renew our faith in the gift of Christ. As we hold the Cup and Bread, we remember that there is a New Covenant, acceptance with God purchased by the blood of Christ Jesus.  We worship Him for providing for us what we could never obtain for ourselves – reconciliation with God. In that moment even as we remember His grace gift, God calls us to examine our hearts.  “Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe. If you give no thought (or worse, don’t care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you’re running the risk of serious consequences. That’s why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won’t have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.” (1 Corinthians 11:28-32 The Message)

There is a rich reward in obedience and sincere love.  Why invite God to bring a ‘planned disaster’ to turn us back to Him?  Wouldn’t we be wiser to listen for His voice, to humble ourselves and to walk in His ways today? "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8, NIV)

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