John Piper rightly thinks most people are missing God’s point in the tsunami:
From pulpits to news programs, from the New York Times to
the Wall Street Journal, the message of the tsunami was missed.
It is a double grief when lives are lost and lessons are not learned.
Every deadly calamity is a merciful call from God for the living to
repent. “Weep with those who weep,” the Bible says. Yes, but let us
also weep for our own rebellion against the living God. Lesson one:
weep for the dead. Lesson two: weep for yourselves.
Every deadly calamity is a merciful call from God for the living
to repent. That was Jesus’ stunning statement to those who brought him
news of calamity. The tower of Siloam had fallen, and 18 people were
crushed. What about this, Jesus? they asked. He answered, “Do you think
that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”
(Luke 13:4-5).
The point of every deadly calamity is this: Repent. Let our hearts
be broken that God means so little to us. Grieve that he is a whipping
boy to be blamed for pain, but not praised for pleasure. Lament that
he makes headlines only when man mocks his power, but no headlines for
ten thousand days of wrath withheld. Let us rend our hearts that we
love life more than we love Jesus Christ. Let us cast ourselves on the
mercy of our Maker. He offers it through the death and resurrection
of his Son.
This is the point of all pleasure and all pain. Pleasure says: “God
is like this, only better; don’t make an idol out of me. I only point.”
Pain says: “What sin deserves is like this, only worse; don’t take offense
at me. I am a merciful warning.”
Read the rest of his article here.