| Cross Words: The Found for the Sake of the Lost |
Richard Prow ~ rpcrosswords@gmail.com
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Hundreds were left dead and thousands were left homeless after one of the largest tornadoes in history hit Joplin, Missouri recently. Same story, same result throughout towns in the state of Alabama just weeks before.
Odds are that a few of God’s faithful were among those who died during one of these cataclysmic weather events. And that brings to mind a question. If God either allows or causes everything that transpires, as the Bible says, why didn’t He just redirect the storms around the homes and businesses of His own children. For that matter, why didn’t He just decimate a couple of gang-infested neighborhoods or take out the attendees at the next atheist convention with one of these monster weather phenomenons? At the very least He could have only destroyed the local brothel. And even if there were a couple of Christians there at the time, at least they would have deserved it. Right?
God’s pupose behind the “storms” He sends are not always for judgement, although that is sometimes the case. Often times, God sends the storms of life to warn against THE coming judgement. He is seeking to gain man’s attention. He is purposing for men to see a need for Him and so be saved. And sometimes that process takes the sacrifice of those who already know God.
We applaud our soldiers, and rightly so, for risking their lives in order for us to live in freedom. The same principle is applied in the spiritual world as well. The Apostles laid down their lives in order for the Gospel to be spread. Jesus surrendered His life in order that all men would have the opportunity to be saved. Sacrifices are required of you and me as well.
Jesus told a story about a shepherd and his love for his sheep. All of his sheep. He said, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? (Luke 15:4).
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