Where Was God?

A friend wrote a blog the other day.  In my opinion, he continues to make the claim that he is a secular humanist, an atheist, a person who does not want to believe in the God of the Bible.  I think that deep down he wants to believe, but his head won't let him follow his heart of faith.  In any event, he wrote the following in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti:

Where was God?  It is events such as the earthquake in Haiti that reconfirm in my mind that there is no God looking out for us in this universe.  Where was God when the earthquake struck Haiti killing thousands? Was it his day off? What sort of God would answer your minor request, while ignoring the tragedy taking place in Haiti?  No. Things like that just happen, as you would expect in a universe without a God. If there were a God, He would have most likely intervened. At least a Good God would have. Wouldn't you, if you had the ability of a God?

Here is my response.

"Where was God?"  Such a shallow question for such a deep discussion.  In Psalm 14:1, we find these words:  Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”  They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

Yes, my God is a loving and holy God.  But make no mistake about this.  It was not and it is not his intent to prevent tragedy and corruption and violence and pain.  That is a utopian thought, brought about by philosophical minds that do not and/or will not accept God's sovereignty.  The Bible tells us there will be wars and pestilence and disease and scourge upon the earth.  So, the question has a false premise to start with.

It is not, "Where was God?"  The question that begs to be asked is, "How is our world responding to the God of the universe, the God of all creation which he made perfect?"  From the Scriptures, we find that man sinned, and from that we find evil and destruction and pain and earthly disasters have become part of our mortal existence.  That is not God's doing, it is the result of man's fall.

So, God was still on his throne.  God was and is still in charge.  God was and will continue to allow the fruits of man's disobedience to be seen even in earthly manifestations of earthquakes, floods, typhoons and fire.  God is not absent.  Far from it.  He was there in the towers on 9/11 in New York.  He was there in the hurricane disaster of Katrina.  He was there in every natural and man-caused disaster that has ever happened.  He comes to be seen as the Great Comforter in those times.  Without those times, we would never know his great love and compassion and grace and glory.

This is almost the oldest question that we are faced with:  "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  Why doesn't God fix everything?

First, God is not the cause of calamity.  He is the cure for calamity.

Second, God is not the "divine magician" nor a Santa Claus to make everything a Pollyana existence.  God is the strength for us to bear all things that are difficult.

Third, God is not the absent Creator and Sustainer.  He is omnipresent and ever present as we see his hand at work for the purpose of righteousness and redemption.

I have openly challenged anyone who is not a Christian believer to give me their foundation of the word "good."  When one talks about a "good" God, what basis does that person have for the word "good."  Good is a moral term, and where does morality come from?  Surely not from one or more individuals, for there is too much conflict and disagreement among mankind.  The basis for our definition of good must come from something greater than ourselves.  The one who defined and is the author of good was God, as any other source is contrived by man.

Finally, where is God in the disaster of Haiti?  He is in the hands and hearts of those Christians who are the first responders to every disaster that happens?  Where are the atheists giving of themselves to love a child just orphaned, a man who just lost his wife and children and home, or to a woman who is injured beyond belief?  The Christians are there.  God is there, working through them and around them and beyond them.  We as Christian believers will not back down.  Our God is triumphant and real and holy and loving and walking with us every moment.  Dare to be a believer whose God is the Lord!

Tell me what you think.