DID GOD CAUSE THE DISASTERS OF JAPAN?

I love a good question as it seems to always lead to more understanding and this is a good question.

I believe in a God that knows everything. Everything includes the knowledge that the disasters that have plagued Japan were to be. My God also is all powerful and therefore could have prevented it. My God is also a caring and loving God; so much so that it is said “He is love” twice, in first John, chapter four (8& 16). So the question changed slightly to me, “Would” God cause the disasters that have struck Japan.

I don’t believe that I have a corner on that question. I think that any Christian has, at least briefly, considered it. If you haven’t, then you should. God is fair enough to answer any question that you might have. I mean any honest question. And I don’t believe He would condemn anyone that would ask for an answer, for any question, asked with sincerity. So let me try to explain the answer that I received.

It seems as though one question leads to another and all must be resolved if an accurate understanding is to be attained. Many lives were lost in the disaster and the next question that occurred to me was, “Would a God that is love take someone’s life?”

Now, everyone knows that we must die a physical death, but those who understand also know that is not the end of life, because we “all” go on living: either in Heaven, or Hell. Look at what the wise woman from Tekoa said to King David, (2 Sam 14:14 NIV) Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.

So, God has decreed that a man’s soul must leave this earth and that is the first death, but He has devised a way for man to avoid the second death, which is for a man’s soul to be banished from God. So, God has not, does not, and will not take anyone’s life.

The dangerous thing about God is He will grant the wishes of everyone’s heart. Those who want to spend eternity with such a wonderful God will and those who do not will also receive their wish.

If that was all that God reviled to me then I would still be confused. I know that God knew the disaster of Japan would happen and I also know that He has the power to stop it. So there had to be something that I was missing and because I asked He gave.

I knew that God is true to His word. God gave the power to His two witnesses to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want (Rev 11:3-6). If He were to stop the witness, after saying He gave them the power, then He would not be true to His word. So, it was not God that caused the disaster; it was the two witnesses.

You may say that God should not have given that power away, but if God went on granting every selfish wish mankind can come up with, then why would anyone repent and act justly? We don’t change when everything is going the way we want. We change when times are tough. That is why it is so difficult for a rich man to enter Heaven.

If you still think it too harsh for Japan to have such a disaster then try to look at Japan through the eyes of the two witnesses. God has abundantly blessed Japan and yet the people do not even consider Him.

If you had the power of the two witnesses, would you create a disaster that would cause the first death of many, in order to awaken a few to eternal life? It is not like those who were killed were going to turn to God if they were left alone.