Lessons from Japan’s Tragedy

2. Lessons from Japan’s Tragedy Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; [21] at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: (Proverbs 1:20-21 ESV)

3. LIFE.com • On Saturday, Cappie Poindexter (New York Liberty, Guard, NWBA) tweeted: “What if God was tired of the way they treated their own people in there own country! Idk guys he makes no mistakes.” http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/news/story?id=6215398 USABasketball.com

4. Examiner.com • Asked to comment on the Japanese earthquake disaster in a Sunday interview, Yoido Full Gospel Church senior pastor David Yonggi Cho told the online newspaper, News Mission, that, “Because the Japanese people shun God in terms of their faith and follow idol worship, atheism, and materialism, it makes me wonder if this was not God’s warning to them.” Examiner.com BetterWorldBooks.com Jctv.nl

5. BusinessInsider.com • Glenn Beck; “I’m not saying God is, you know, causing earthquakes,” He added that he was “not not saying that, either.” • “Whether you call it Gaia, or whether you call it Jesus, there’s a message being sent and that is, ‘Hey, you know that stuff we’re doing? Not really working out real well.’ Maybe we should stop doing some of it.” Examiner.com real-politique.blogspot.com

6. LIFE.com • Monday, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara described the disaster as “tembatsu” - divine punishment. Ishihara said: “Japanese politics is tainted with egoism and populism. We need to use the tsunami to wipe out egoism, which has attached itself like rust to the mentality of the Japanese people over a long period of time.” • Tuesday, after receiving an outcry of protest for his insensitive remarks, Ishihara backtracked, and offered an apology. Ishihara said “I will take back (the remark) and offer a deep apology,” according to Japan’s Kyodo News. Examiner.com StraitsTimes.com

7. God is not responsible for every bad thing that happens… …anymore than he rewards good behavior with blessing

8. Job 21:7-13 [7] Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? [8] Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes. [9] Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them. [10] Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry. [11] They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance. [12] They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. [13] They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol. There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. (Job 1:1 ESV)

9. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; [26] on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; [27] in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2 Corinthians 11:24-27 ESV)

10. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10-12 ESV)

11. God is not responsible for every bad thing that happens… • …anymore than he rewards good behavior with blessing • If HE were doing it there would be no question

12. The truth of the matter? The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31] because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31 ESV)

13. The truth of the matter? For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45 ESV) Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV)

14. God is not responsible for every bad thing that happens… • …anymore than he rewards good behavior with blessing • If HE were doing it there would be no question • Natural disasters are NATURAL

15. This is NOT the end of the world via Matthew 24:3-7 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” [4] And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. [5] For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. [6] And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (Matthew 24:3-7 ESV)

16. This is NOT the end of the world via Matthew 24:3-7  Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. [2] But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” [3] As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” (Matthew 24:1-3 ESV)

17. What of the end, for us?  Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. [53] For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 ESV)

18. What of the end, for us? But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:10 ESV)

19. What of the end, for us?  Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. [2] For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 ESV)

20. What of the end, for us? But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. [5] For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. [6] So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. [8] But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 ESV)

21. Those who blame God have a distorted view of God

22. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ezekiel 18:23 ESV)

23. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV)

24.  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— [8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. [10] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:6-10 ESV)

25. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17 ESV)  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11 ESV)

26. Instead of focusing on the negative/unknown, focus on blessing • Brethren in Tokyo spared • Opportunity to help presented • Example of concerned care seen • Lessons to be seen in the quick fall of a leading nation • Need for God & preparation for eternity is driven home

27. Why the destruction, death, and suffering on these people and even the innocents among them? • Sometimes things just happen. We need to remember… • To be alert, ready to meet God • To be ready to give God Glory Have we done these two things in our life?