Have you thought why many earthquakes, so quickly? where will be the next one?Earthquakes, There are been so many (Haiti, Chile, California, China) in a few period of this year. Just in beginning of this year, we all know through television and various media the tragedy of the earthquake that almost destroyed the tiny nation of Haiti, and many were touched by the pain suffered by an alien people where many lost if life, as the death toll far exceeded the 150 thousand and for those who remained alive and / or wounded, many of them are now orphans and other large and lost his family, who were poor but without many material things as a roof decent public services that are essential for us to appreciate them but not for them, not long ago (because of my job of engineer), I had the opportunity to live a few months on the island, and although it is true, the country consumes poverty, also there among the many things I could see that people were trying to move forward to yours with the little money I got, although the sources of employment were not many, and if we pay attention to that country has also been killed by other natural disasters such as hurricanes, which also devastated what little there was, I had the opportunity to stay precisely in these days of Hurricane, and I can not deny that the fear of not being able to control nature is great and we feel so powerless against to nature's fury, isn’t?
Today I want to talk about what we can learn from this great tragedy, a wise man is who learns from others' experiences be these ones good or bad, and I want to talk today about what GOD wants to teach us from the misfortune of others. We are at 1st quarter of the year, but not long time ago we enjoyed the joy of the holidays, and we continued our lives without asking to GOD (our Creator) what is he expecting from us for this 2010.
So From the bitter experience of Haiti, I have 3 teachings that convey to you and that are a word of GOD:
(First Teaching)
We could hear on the news about the tragedy of Haiti, which many were placed in the position of judges and went on to say publicly that all the bitterness he had lived that nation or earthquakes and hurricanes was a divine punishment and therefore they deserved it, thus, we become us saints and just observers against of the misery of others. Thinking inside, that we were well and anything bad wouldn’t come to pass.
it reminds me a teaching from JESUS about same topic, which some people asked him, if the people were dying prematurely because it was more evil than others (Gospel of Luke Chapter 13)
About this time JESUS was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” JESUS asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to GOD. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.” Then JESUS told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”
In these 2 short stories, JESUS Christ the same GOD made man, taught his listeners (of course to us), don't think that anyone who dies early, it is because he is more wicked than you or I, so, for that reason comes a trial divine, for nothing, so the stated emphatically, "No way! And if you do not change their way of life or obey GOD, you surely die. "
Buddy, you must remember that GOD has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.
Returning to the word of the Lord JESUS said that the tragic deaths were not always a result of living a life away from GOD,
Personal Experience
when I was in Haiti (Mid of 2008), I saw on a Sunday, many people going to church, the place where I lived was located in the mountainous area bordering Puerto Principe, and something I was pleased to see the crowds (and not lying about it ) the day Sunday came out of their humble homes with their best clothes men, women and children, because although they were poor, leaving the best for GOD, and they went to their churches even if these ones were smaller or poorer than their houses to study the Bible, that I saw it in Haiti, I must admit that the bad publicity of the movies made me think at first that the Vudu was the majority religion in this country and that the zombies or undead were the terror of the night, so, these things as other ones spread by the news are false, therefore, I can certify that Haiti was not destroyed by a quake because of that people were more sinful than you or me, although its right that many people for sure do not seek to GOD, because of the quake many died people were Christian, and when I use the word Christian, I mean those who are fearful of GOD, either a Catholic or going to an Evangelical church, because only the Lord knows the intentions of the heart of anyone who reach him, JESUS taught that he was the only way to heaven, never said it was those who go to this or that church, unfortunately, the men put barriers and obstacles to get closer to GOD. But we still have time to amend our steps, and know the true GOD.
( And here comes the 2nd teaching)
I know that talking about death is not a popular topic, but when I say that we have to become honest in front to GOD ,it's equivalent to when you build a house, foundation, or the bases are the most important thing of any building, because although you decorate your windows with beautiful curtains and decorate your garden with beautiful flowers, or do arranges to make a beautiful kitchen, if the foundation of the house is not firm, when an earthquake comes around it will go down, I saw it during the tragedy of Haiti, because of poverty many houses were collapsed, but just a few belonging to the rich people which were firmly cemented these withstood the tremor , and if you do not believe me watch the news and it finds, poor people for their low income resulting poor quality housing built and these obviously have collapsed, but people with more money invested in structural quality can be witnessed today miracle of life.
JESUS also taught a fundamental principle of the construction, and compare it to the
obedience to his teachings, look in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 7 (24-27):
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
How have you built your home? I mean your life or your family, your environment, probably you can answer that you make business, or you are student, or might be you say that you are a man or woman devoted to your family, but, as it was taught by the Lord JESUS If the foundation of your life are not his teachings soon or late it will fail, think for a second, during the life eventually some quakes happens, for that reason some families or individuals have sank by a crisis, isn’t? Examples of life’s quakes are the unemployment or a disease, or a lack of love or whatever thing who show up just to destroy our happiness.
The foundation and support of your life must be JESUS (GOD). in Psalm 127 Our Father GOD, promises us as follows:
Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.
listen to me, we cannot prevent quakes in our lifes, as well as in the physical world happens, but you can be ready when they arrive, build your house thru the hand of GOD, you need time of communion with him, it’s not related just to go every Sunday to church, because if you daily don’t grow your relationship with the Lord, through prayer and meditation of the Bible, nothing else will help you, look of GOD is a necessity, not an option, don’t wait for a quake to look up for GOD. I don’t say that he will not pay attention to you, because you've lost valuable time and might be your salvation, so the Lord JESUS said: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
We continue with the 3rd and last teaching that GOD wants to teach us from the tragedy of Haiti:
And this is linked to the tragedy, which is the earthquake itself.
When JESUS' disciples knowing he was going to die on the cross, they asked "and what will be the sign of thy coming and the end of the world? he had promised that after rising to the heaven one day he return it. do know you about? Pay attention what JESUS answered them:
And JESUS answered them ( Gospel of Matthew chap. 24 and Luke Chapter 21) He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the way,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.
Sadly the earthquakes that have done so much damage are ones of the signs of the soon coming of JESUS, the mankind has not taken care of the earth and this one cries out for a vengeance against us.
As we see, JESUS had prophesied, had predicted that there would be large earthquakes, this does not mean that he sent them, but remember, GOD knows everything (the past, present and future) , so, He warned us what would happen, so we were prepared for these signals and corrected our bad way. Today GOD sends me to say you, Come near to GOD today. do not expect live a tragedy like Haiti to claim him,
These words of JESUS are an advice to be prepared, do not throw away this advertisement. JESUS also spoke of that would have pestilences in various places, AIDS is one of them, this is another Swine-Flu and many more will come. All of them are result of human sins or you do not believe yet that sexual immorality was the source of AIDS?
But the Lord JESUS, indicated that with the Earthquakes, there would be other events that would prove that He was right, "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ' and will deceive many. Currently, there are many men and women who cheat. It is certainly they don’t say they're JESUS, but they say same thing as he said: "I am the answer to your questions," "I am the light that let you out of darkness where you live," "I am the way that you must follow"" I am a disinterested friend "," I am who knows your future and I can change it ", " I am who can make the miracle you need ", so there are many sayings " I am "" I am " But it is easy to notice why they are not equal to JESUS, because of they don’t do nothing for free, therefore, they charge you a lot of money and also they make mistakes a lot, you do not understand that there is only one that will never charge you and make mistakes and that one is JESUS our Lord and GOD.
The time of the coming of JESUS Christ is near. And the abundance of fake masters is one of the signs of His coming and the end of the world. if you knew what Bible says, you’ll notice that all entire teaching of these false prophets is against the word of GOD, therefore you will sin without notice. GOD commands, you don’t practice witchcraft, sorcery and try to predict the future or consulting the spirits of the dead for advising, such as medium or spirits does or who consulting horoscopes or tarot . So, When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their GOD? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? (Isaiah 8:19) But you must obey your GOD in everything and be careful not to follow the bad example of these people (Deut 18). those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. "(Rev 21:8).
In spite of it sounds loud and threatening everything we’ve just heard, you must remember that the Lord is Kind and forgiving, slow to anger, abounding in love and now only tells us: "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
you know why the Lord JESUS can forgive your sins? Because he is still GOD as his Father. So, he has placed him as our only mediator and intercessor between GOD and us. So we must be very honest before GOD because If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
You might wonder why so many warnings? Because our GOD-Creator loves us, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die?
'If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person's former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person's former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous, if they sin, will not be allowed to live because of their former righteousness.' If I tell the righteous that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things they have done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. And if I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' but they then turn away from their sins and do what is just and right— if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil, they will surely live; they will not die. None of the sins they have committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.
GOD knows our inability to go by ourselves to the Heaven, For GOD so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For GOD did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of GOD's one and only Son. "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, "JESUS is Lord," and believe in your heart that GOD raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame."
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the unGODly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But GOD demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from GOD's wrath through him! For if, while we were GOD's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in GOD through our Lord JESUS Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
So, if you're determined to change and turn to GOD, do the following prayer:
GOD, I accept that I have sinned for living against your commands. Please, Forgive all my sins, I receive your forgiveness. Lord JESUS, I invite you to live in my heart, and I want that you be my savior and only master and I ask you to help me to live according to your rules. Please, Write me down in the book of Life, so, after die I want to go to the heaven with you. Please, do miracles and solve all my problems. Thanks for listening me. AMEN
