911: When Tragedy Strikes
Matthew 14:22-33
10 years ago today my wife and I were watching in disbelief as 9-11 unfolded before our horrified eyes. We remember how we felt because to some degree we are reminded of this emotion when we witness tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Anniversaries such as this one remind us of the soon return of Christ in the skies and the coming judgment for this earth. We need to look at the “what.” What should we do when these cataclysmic events strike?
I. HAVE FAITH - NOT FEAR Vs. 26. “...and they cried out for fear.”
Vs. 27, 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage!l It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Vs. 30, 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Vs. 31, 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”n he said, “why did you doubt?”
I am not suggesting that we should not express normal emotions of concern and uncertainty. I am saying that fear is not the spiritual response.
2 Tim. 1:7
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,o but gives us power,p love and self-discipline.
Fear brings no comfort, but anxiety and distress.
As we have observed the destruction and loss, we are able to related with them in a very personal way! And we Christians cannot simply overlook the fact that the worst is yet to come for this planet, whether or not we live to experience it. Yet, we must not fear during times of crisis, will have the answer for us.
Jesus said in Mark 11:22 , 22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Trulyf I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.s 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.t
Just Dial 911—
Genesis 9:11
11 I establish my covenantb with you:c Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.d
Do you believe God’s promise? Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes are localized. The rainbow is God giving us His word on this…do we believe Him and trust Him?
So, Have Faith and not Fear.
II. PRAY - DON’T PANIC
When one is filled with fear, when panic takes over and one is inclined to allow prayer to cease. We must continue to pray for those who are homeless or missing loved ones. We should pray today for all devastated by terrorism 10 years ago, as well as those terrorized today, for certainly terrorism continues, especially for those standing for Jesus!
Just Dial 911—
Neh. 9:11
11 You divided the sea before them,d so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths,e like a stone into mighty waters.f
The natural man’s heart fails, but the supernatural man prays!
Job 9:11 11 When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
Job couldn’t see God in some low times, he didn’t understand what God was doing, but he knew He was there, and he was faithful in prayer!
Psalm 91:1
1 Whoever dwells in the sheltery of the Most High will rest in the shadowz of the Almighty.
It’s hard to see in the shadows, and it can be scary there, until we realized Whose shadow that is!
Events are things that pass away, but the devil cannot touch our spiritual things…our salvation is secure as we are in God’s hand. Job said “naked came I out of my mother’s womb and naked shall I return.” “the Lord gave and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord!” In eternity material values don’t matter. “only 1 life, twill soon be passed…only what’s done for Christ will last!”
2 Cor. 9:11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Truly, if we have Christ we have it all…we’re rich, we’re blessed, and we should be thankful in all circumstances for this!
III. BELIEVE GOD - DON’T BLAME HIM
Although we call an an “act of God,” this is not God’s fault,
Some will blame Him. Some will turn against Him.
Some will suggest that God is punishing certain individuals.
It’s part of our nature to make ourselves feel better by assigning blame. Some will seek to blame the President, some blame the government, some blame each other.
So Dial 911—
Eccles. 9:11
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
It’s a sin-cursed world, and we are the sinners who cursed it, and bad things happen in our world.
We shouldn’t blame God, but believe on Him. God is not responsible for our circumstances…He wants to save us from out circumstances, and He will, if only we believe in Him, put our trust in Him, like the blind man in John 9:11
John 9:11 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.
We don’t know all the reasons why situations exist and events happen. We do know that God is in charge, and He controls all. Thus, we must believe and not blame.
IV. RESPOND - DON’T RUN
We must take this as a lesson and a call from God to do that which must be done.
Dial 911—
Matthew 9:11 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus went where the opportunities were, to those who had a great need, and recognized their need, their need of Him. And this is the time for believers to reach out as well!
Psalm 9:11 11 Sing the praisesb of the LORD, enthroned in Zion;c
proclaim among the nationsd what he has done.
V. BE ASSURED - NOT ANGRY
Be assured that God always does the right thing.
Be assured that God never makes mistakes.
Our Anger must be directed toward sin.
Righteous anger must be directed toward the Prince of sin.
God hates the sinner’s sin, but he loves the sinner.
And, God gave His Son for the sinner.
Anger will only enhance confusion and misunderstanding. So we need to focus upward in assurance in God, and not outward in anger to situations which we have no control over.
Peter rose above the storm when he looked at his Lord, but he got into trouble when he looked at the storm. We have a problem in that we always want to “feel” good, but our relationship with God is not dependent on what we feel. We need to rest in the “fact” that all is well even when we don’t feel it. Bad things happen, but God is good!
Dial 911—
Proverbs 9:11 11 For through wisdomb your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
We can be assured the goodness of God in all things if we have the assurance of salvation…
God’s anger is sometimes poured out on wickedness, but He knows His own, and when He sees that blood he passes over us.
And the wicked have their reward.
What will we do in time of crisis?
We must have faith, not fear.
We must pray, not panic.
We should believe and not blame.
Don’t run from problems, run to problems, respond to those in need. And depart in peace with assurance.
Philip. 1:6 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completionk until the day of Christ Jesus.
