On Sunday 19th of May, I ministered a message entitled "All Weather - The Storms of Life" at Victory Greenhills, Manila Philippines.
Watch video message on "Storms of Life"
Little did I know that the next day a devastating tornado ripped through Moore Oklahoma that totally devastated anything and everything that was in its path. Death toll is 24 and that includes 9 or 10 children.
My message on Storms of Life suddenly became a reality in a powerful way. The community of Moore suffered greatly. Loss of life, loss of their homes plus the memory of sounds, screams, the tornado and the visual sights after this catastrophic event.
What amazes and concerns me, when well-meaning people in their limited or finite understanding, try and interpret these natural disasters. I met someone this week and after I mentioned what happened in Moore Oklahoma, the first words to pass his lips to impact my ears were the following, "This is the wrath of God".
His words stunned me and took me a while to recover and get my facilities to function again. After that brief moment which seemed like eternity, I felt that no person can pass such judgment on a community in that way. After gathering my thoughts, I felt I need to respond in an appropriate way that would not offend anyone.
This is how I responded. If this tornado was the wrath of God for Moore Oklahoma, then every city, town, suburb community had been on the lookout for something tragic to happen. Because in every nation of the world, sin abounds in great measures. Terrible things are happening across the world. True judgment will come to us all when Jesus returns to fetch His bride. But in the meantime, lets live our lives worth of His coming.
Natural disasters are not new to us around the world. If one looks at the history of the world we have had volcanoes erupting, hurricanes and tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, bush fires etc. and all these natural phenomena have had catastrophic results thousands have lost their lives and will continue to happen until Jesus returns. What about all the wars that have happened, past and current? Can that be interpreted as the wrath of God? Come on... lets be real and not interpret everything that happens as the wrath of God.
If anyone from Moore Oklahoma reads my blog, I want to say that we love you all so much. We don't understand why certain things happen to precious people like you. My family has just been through 7 earthquakes and over 12000 aftershocks where 182 people lost their lives, homes and possessions. We feel your pain and sorrow at a time like this. Just know that only Jesus can see you through. Jesus is our only hope and the anchor of our soul. We know that it's not easy, but keep holding on despite your feelings, thoughts and pain.
When I ministered the message on "Storms", I concluded the message with this scripture. Let me encourage you with this.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
The word "all" means ... all. Good things, tragic things and bad things. Everything that comes our way. Every moment of every day. God is working that into your life for the good. You might not understand the good today BUT hold on, as you press into the future, you will have an amazing testimony because of the tests you have been through.
We will continue to pray for you at this time. May you know the presence, the love and the power of God at this time. Kia kaha. Stay strong.
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