There are several important lessons to learn from the recent disaster in Haiti, lessons that actually are common to the series of disasters that seem continuously to plague mankind, but to which most of us just seem to close our eyes and minds. The first of these lessons is humility. We simply do not run the world, and it is foolish arrogance to think otherwise. We have no more power to stop earthquakes than have previous generations. Yet, we live in a part of the world where things go the way we want them to go much of the time so that we begin to think that we are the cause of our own success. How ironic! We hunker down helplessly one day under an ice storm, not able to stop one raindrop, and the next day we are deciding to spend billions on manmade "climate control."

The fact is that God controls the world, and He not only does not consult with us, He tells us why things happen the way they do. Jesus specifically tells us that the age in which we live will be characterized by "wars and rumors of wars," because "nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places" (Matt. 24:6-7). This is exactly what has been happening the last two thousand years and yet many of us tend to look down upon those who take the Bible to be true in what it says. This is the second lesson-we have no means of understanding history if we do not listen to the God who rules it.

Well then, why do these bad things happen? I'm glad you asked, because God tells us that He brings these disasters upon the earth to wake us all up to the fact that we are sinners who need to repent and seek forgiveness from Him. Jesus said, "those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think they were sinners more than all men who dwelt in Jerusalem, I tell you, No, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:4-5). In verses 1-3 of the same chapter He says the same thing about people who were cruelly murdered by Pontius Pilate. In other words, "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23), and there is no human being, man, woman, or child who will escape it, because we are all sinners. Some would like to tell us that death is normal, but the vast outpouring of sympathy for victims of disasters tell us that this is poppycock. None of us likes the idea of dying.

These verses in Luke 13 also tell us that folks who suffer disasters are not worse than the rest of us. Are they sinners, worse than the rest of you? Jesus asks, and answers His own question with "No way." Another time His disciples asked, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, because he was born blind?" Jesus answered "Neither one, but that the works of God might be displayed clearly." Not only are these things under God's control, God's purpose is that by knowing this we will have real comfort in the face of our own uncertainty. Imagine the difference between Daniel going into the lion's den, or David going into battle with the sure knowledge that God is with him, compared to the terror of believing that this is just a roll of the dice.

The fact is that we do have the comfort of God's presence no matter whether we survive great danger, or we die, as we all will some day. This is because while the "wages of sin is death," Romans 6:23 goes on to say, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." You and I can go through life knowing and believing the real God, or we can make life a roll of the dice. This choice is ours, but reality isn't. Haiti did happen.

(1 Peter 5:1-9)

One of the main purposes for the writing of this epistle was to prepare the members of the churches for the imminent trouble because of persecution for the sake of Christ. Peter has given instructions to show that the Christian faith was to be practiced in every possible circumstance. He made every effort to impress upon the recipients of the letter that because of faith in Jesus Christ, there would be a difference in the way that they lived. Now, as we come to the last chapter, the Apostle takes time to address the congregations in the way they should function together. The relationships in the churches to which they belonged were extremely important, especially in light of the difficulties that could soon overtake them.

When trials come to the churches that are loyal to Christ, the bond that exists between the members is seen for what it is. In some ways, the time in which we live creates barriers that make achieving close relationships difficult. We no longer live in the same town or village. Quick and dependable transportation makes meeting at a central area possible, but it doesn't necessarily foster the kind of fellowship that binds people together. This is something at which we need to work. The recreational activities in which we may participate do not always overlap with those of our brethren. The things that unite us are far more important than location or personalities or these activities. There is unity in Christ and in the truth of God's Holy Word. There is a unity built upon a common confession of faith, a solid commitment to what we believe the Bible teaches. We agree on what is the Gospel, and we agree on what the Scriptures say about how redemption is entirely the work of God in his Sovereign mercy to sinners.

The expression of that fellowship is critical to the witness of the church in the world. But it is in the face of difficulty and danger that the church may be a refuge of encouragement and strength to God's people who can look to one another for help. Peter addresses the matter of how the people should relate to each other, and how attitudes are important. It makes us better understand why attitude is everything when it comes to functioning well as a church.