Accidental Suffering Series

The Cherynoble nuclear accident in Russia was one of the most

headline grabbing events of the 20th century. But what we do not

realize is that many accidents are not spectacular explosions, fiery

crashes, or powerful events of violence. There are also very silent

accidents which are equally deadly. For example, back in 1983 two

employees at a hospital were clearing out a warehouse where a worn

out cancer therapy machine had been collecting dust for 6 years.

They had no idea that in the case of this machine were 6,000 pellets of

radioactive cobalt. They sold it for scrap metal for $10.00. Some of

these pellets fell out into the truck they used to carry it to the junk

yard. At the junk yard the pellets were scattered all over the place as

the magic picked it up and dumped it in a pile. These 6,000 pellets

were mixed with metal that was sent out to a company that made legs

for tables in fast food restaurants. Others found their way into metal

rods to reinforce concrete.

Nobody was even aware that a dangerous accident was in progress,

for there was no noise or explosion. Many people, however, were

being exposed to high levels of radioactivity. It was not until a truck

carrying a load of this radioactive material pulled into a government

project that anybody became aware. Radioactive detectors set off

alarms, and the Nuclear Safety Commission immediately went into

action to trace these rods back to that junk yard. Then they had to

trace where all the scrap had gone. They closed down the leg making

factory, and they found the truck that delivered the machine in the

first place. It was very hot, and it was hauled away, but research

learned that up to 200 people could have touched it or been near

enough to be exposed.

2,500 table bases had to be returned from 40 states. People eating

at these tables were getting the equivalent of a one hour lung x-ray.

The hottest legs of all were found in a downtown Chicago hotel. The

point is, there was no big exposition by which to identify this accident,

or series of accidents. It was quiet and not dramatic, and so there was

no way to trace how many people were affected by it. Nobody was

doing anything evil to cause this accident. The two men who started it

all were acting in ignorance with no intent to harm anyone. Yet they

may have done harm to thousands of people.

In this message we are looking at two other men who were involved

in an ancient accident that only temporarily left one of them dead, but

we can see that though the scale is smaller the same principles are at

work. A study of them will help us better understand the causes and

cures for suffering in the world. There is only one permanent cure for

the suffering of any person, and that is to get a body that is no longer

subject to pain and death. The only way to get such a body is by faith

in the risen Christ who died and rose again that all who trust Him

might have just such bodies that will live with Him forever. But until

that day of total victory over all suffering there are millions of pains

we are to strive to prevent in time. The only way we can be effective

in preventing suffering is to keep learning more and more about the

causes. That is what the study of all branches of medicine is about. If

you find the cause for suffering, you have a good start toward

conquering it or preventing it.

Let's look at this accidental death of a New Testament teenager

and see what we can learn about the cause and cure of suffering. Keep

in mind that this account is being written by Dr. Luke who is an eye

witness of the event. Dr. Luke is not being super spiritual here at all

by writing such things like: It must have been the will of God, or

demons made it happen. He takes the very scientific approach that

says there were perfectly logical and natural causes for this accident.

If it was planned by God or Satan it would not have been an accident,

but there is no hint that this event was intended by anyone. All

accidents have causes, however, and Dr. Luke gives us an excellent

diagnosis of the causes of this particular accident. We want to look at

it through the doctor's eyes, and see his account of the cause, and by

inference, his prescription for the cure. First look at-

I. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CAUSE.

Dr. Luke describes two basic causes for this accident which fits