Life questions with photos of Limassol
Life is such a precious gift, yet so fragile. In the past few days, we have witnessed tragic scenes in Turkey and Syria where thousands of lives have been lost through the catastrophic consequences of a major earthquake. The scenes broadcast on the news have been heartbreaking; we cannot begin to fathom such devastation and loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving and the injured - may they cry out to the Living God for comfort and salvation.
Tragic events can cause us to question God's sovereignty: if God is love, how can He allow this to happen?
There are no easy answers, but we know that this world is broken and corrupted by sin. Paul described these natural disasters as 'pains of childbirth' in his letter to the Romans:
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8: 22-23 ESV)
The Lord Jesus also warned of 'birth pains' when outlining the signs of His second coming in Matthew's Gospel:
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
(Matthew 24: 6-8 ESV)
In other words, the storm clouds are gathering and we must be ready for what lies ahead.
The best way to prepare for the storm of the 'last days' is to take shelter in the offer of God's salvation. How then can we be saved?
We read in Acts 2 about the earthquake at Philippi when the doors of the prison were flung open under the impact. Thinking the prisoners had fled, the jailer almost ended his own life. However, on seeing they were all present, he fell down before Paul and Silas and posed the all-important question: Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Luke records the answer and the events which ensued:
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
(Acts 16:31-34)
Accepting God's salvation through faith in Jesus Christ means that we are saved eternally from God's wrath. Judgement will come on the world for all the evil, wicked crimes of humanity, but that is not all; after death follows the Great White Throne judgement depicted in Revelation 20:11-15.
Have you ever asked yourself the all-important question: What must I do to be saved?
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today and depend on His atoning death to save you for eternity. If He is not the Lord of our lives on earth, one day He will say to us: I never knew you, depart from Me (Matthew 7:23). None of us knows the day of our death, so let us be ready to meet God when we leave this life.
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