“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). Isn’t that the truth!
Hurricane Laura pounds the south with wind gusts up to 150 miles per hour and predicted storm surges called “unsurvivable.” Wildfires continue to destroy homes and devastate lives in California. Social injustice surfaced by the treatment of George Floyd, Jacob Blake and others results in legitimate protests but also illegal violence and willful destruction of property. And the pandemic has taken some 180,000 American lives, brought the worst unemployment since the Great Depression, while political partisans dither. Whoa, Jesus, you’re right about today having problems!
I’m trying to make sense of it all. It seems that these tragedies are of two types, some caused by nature and others caused by mankind. There is a human factor in weather and wildfires, how we sometimes populate and build unwisely in certain areas, but still nature does what it does. Tragedies like Kenosha can only be attributed to humans. Economic disparities, social injustice, and lawlessness are contributing causes, but they do come from us humans. The only common denominator I know for natural and human tragedies is sin. Yes, that old fashioned notion that we’re in rebellion against our Creator and there’s a price to be paid. “The Scripture imprisoned everything under sin” (Galatians 3:22). Mankind is obviously under sin, and nature too is in “bondage to corruption” (Romans 8:21).
Some traditions in Protestantism emphasize the sovereignty of God. “There is absolutely nothing that happens in the universe that is outside of God’s influence and authority” (Christianity.com). OK, plenty of Bible passages support that, but is that the main takeaway about God? It’s not very inviting, is it? I find this more helpful: “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3-4). The Gospel is less the sovereignty of God and much more His saving us sinners, giving us hope in today’s sufferings, and final deliverance when He takes us to our heavenly home (1 Peter 1:3-9). “The Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22).
A principle of Alcoholics Anonymous is living one day at a time. Not bad advice also for us temporarily living under the consequences of sin. “Your heavenly Father knows. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:32-33). Jesus, I'm giving You today's troubles.
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