How We Make Sense Out Of Tragedy (Revisited)

How We Make Sense Out Of Tragedy (Revisited)

It is very hard from a human perspective to make sense out of a tragic loss of a loved one. We think to ourselves, why would God allow this to happen? Yet from an eternal perspective only God knows why He does not protect everyone from the effects of sin in this fallen world. Maybe the greater purpose in all tragedy reminds us that our Creator is making light of the sin and brokenness in this world. He is calling us all to turn to Him for hope which He freely offers graciously to all.

No one I know of is going to be able to escape physical death. Whether young or old we have to face the fact that our bodies are infected with the disease of sin. And because of that sin in us and in others, our bodies will either break down over time or be in the line of fire of accidents, violence, natural disasters, or evil.

Many people live their lives through a horizontal existence and perspective which is the reason why people in general are really not concerned about their eternity. The only time we start thinking about life and death it is when someone we know dies or there is a tragedy we hear about in the news where there is a loss of life.  

But we should be concerned about eternity and the reason is our Creator has revealed to us the whys. According to God’s Word, the Bible, it matters how we live and where we are going to spend our eternity. 

As far as eternity is concerned we are either going to be with God or separated from Him.  We can choose our eternity and that is why it is fair for people to choose Hell over Heaven. God has revealed the way one can be with Him for eternity and the good news is, the way is clear and we don’t have to earn it.

So here is the way:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

And with this choice comes abundant life: (Jesus said)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Great News:

Jesus not only came to rescue people from spiritual death but also to give them a purpose driven life. For those who put their faith and trust in Jesus have a great purpose through the amount of impact they can have in this world by testifying and modeling their new transformed life and faith due to the power of God’s love and amazing grace.

Here is what we need to take to heart:

Those who receive the gift the faith are transformed from death to life.

Here is that promise from Jesus that we all can receive:

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

(John 5:24)

Those who become followers of Jesus are no longer enemies of God. In fact, they have become God’s friend. Jesus’ death on the cross reminds us of His great love and willingness to suffer and die to rescue us from our sin which is what separates us from God in the first place. The Bible reminds of Jesus’ love and willing sacrifice:

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (1 John 4:10)

He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deed (Titus 2:14)

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

Each person that Jesus purchased with His life has an amazing God story to tell. Their testimonies of God’s love, mercy and grace reminds us that without God intervening in our circumstances, we would remain separated from Him for all eternity.

A great reminder - God came to rescue people like you and me:

^“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8)

Remember we are all infected with a sin nature!

God created us with a purpose which is to love Him and fellowship with Him. Followers of Jesus worship and praise Him for His extravagant mighty work of creation and salvation. They experience Him because believers are given the gift of the Holy Spirit that indwells within each believer. Through the Holy Spirit’s influence, guidance and teaching they are willing and able to serve God and others through the spiritual gifts and talents they have been given. Their service is not out of obligation but out of a new desire to love God and their neighbor. And when it is time to go home and be with God, He has plans for His people as well.  

It is important to know that God has an even better home for us than this earth. He has prepared a place for His people where there will be no more death, pain disease, violence or suffering. Yes, we can have an eternity that is far better than the life we have been given here on earth. Praise God for that better place called heaven!

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples in order to comfort them. This is a promise for all believers as well:

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”(John 14:1-4)

God's Word reminds me about how much God loves us and desires to reassure us that even though our sin nature causes us to stumble at times, it does not prevent us from the receiving the promises God made to those who have received the gift of faith. 

No one can snatch us away from God:

 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all^; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:27-29)

We will never be separated from the love of God!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Those who have received the Holy Spirit through there confession of faith confirms that they are God’s Children.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1:13)

The Holy Spirit is our assurance that we have truly been rescued from our sin:

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

Many times I have seen the glow and joy of a new believer in Christ. God’s supernatural work changes a person’s heart and it is quite evident that they are different and in the process of transformation from the inside out. Their new identity is in Christ and they begin to serve God out of love and not out of obligation or even to try to earn God’s approval. God has already approved of them and their call to faith proves that He does.

The greatest achievement in this life is not status, wealth or worldly success. The greater success story is to be known and loved by God. This is not done by any work we can do but by God’s supernatural work and intervention into our circumstances.  We are given the gift of faith.

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God ^- not by works, so that no one can boast.

(Ephesians 2:8-9)

Those who have received the gift of faith will never die spiritually even though they will die physically in this world’s timeline. This physical death brings sorrow to us because of the temporary loss we experience while we are still awaiting our turn to enter into that same state.

The Believers joy:

As followers of Jesus we can celebrate the eternal life of a Believer who has passed knowing that we will one day be reunited with them again in heaven.

Still, losing a friend or a family member is devastating. Yet, there is one important thing I have witnessed about the family of God, they do not grieve alone. They are surrounded by other believers who will offer comfort, prayer and counsel during the difficult days of sorrow ahead. The acts of kindness and compassion remind us that God has wired His people to be an extended family. They are truly brothers and sisters in Christ.  There will always be moments of loss as we go through this life. Yet, we get to experience moments of blessing due to God making sure we are cared for by His family.          

There are so many great promises God has made to His people that should encourage us as we go through life in a broken and fallen world. Two passages have helped me through the most difficult of days:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28)

My experience:

God planned and then brought me to my moment of salvation which is the greatest gift I have ever received. Meanwhile as I trust Him to direct my every day, He leads me into a life filled with abundance all the while showing me how to appropriate His blessings.  I desire for Him to do a work in me and through me which is the real evidence I look for in every believer. This is how I see the abundant life: The Holy Spirit working in us and through us creating an amazing depth of love a person has for God and for others. This is the legacy we should all desire to leave as followers of Jesus. The reward we get is the privilege to serve and glorify God. Our new Christ-likeness represents God’s love and not the world’s darkness. We must remember our purpose includes demonstrating God’s love to the broken, the hurting, the poor, and the lost. This is important because the legacy we leave behind will be impacted by our character, our heart, and how we lived, not just what we achieved.

To me, if a Believer's life affects other people in a positive and loving way, God will remember what they have done. If a Believer loves and serves God with gratitude using the gifts and talents He gave them, God will surely remember that as well.  

Good works are the ones God has prepared in advance for Believers to do. Their obedience to God assures them of His love and God promises to reward the ones He loves.

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

(Hebrews 6:10)

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23)

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

Take this to heart - we will be judged on how we have lived.  

But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Followers of Jesus ought to reflect on their lives and see if the kind of work they are doing truly reflects God’s love and principles. This passage below is one we should all take to heart:

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. (1 Corinthians 3:11- 15)

So the way we live is important. They way we treat others and love God even more so.
 
As we are faced with the difficulties of living life in a broken and fallen world, whose character are we going to reflect? Even if we can't make sense out of tragedy how are we going to continue to live and act? If we turn to God for answers He will reassure us that we can live and act with an eternal perspective where everyday counts, every moment has meaning, every action filled with eternal purpose, so even with death all around us, there is still abundant life to be appropriated, there is still good work to be done in God's name. 

The good news:
In Christ there is abundant life. 
In Christ we will be transformed from the inside out. 
In Christ we can have a hope and a future.

So even if we can’t make sense out of tragedy we can make sense out of this: Jesus came to rescue us from the sting of sin and death and will gives us a new life and a new hope. Jesus' action carries the weight of eternal significance. If one ignores God’s life giving gift of faith than they will unfortunately drown in the turbulent waters of a broken and fallen world.

Remember this:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

The greatest tragedy is to be separated from God. Don’t let that happen.

Just Sayin…………….Dave