Sermon
Looking For Answers In The Midst Of Tragedy
September 16, 2001
Pastor Leighton Sheley

Normally our pulpit is a pulpit of exposition where we study God's holy word, passage by passage, and word by word. The exceptional tragedy of this past week requires an exceptional response from this pulpit, because people are looking for answers. How could God allow this to happen? Why? Who? Perhaps the most haunting question is the question, why? You see if the suffering were the result of a natural disaster that question, why, would not be burning so deeply in our hearts and minds.

Billy Graham, in his recent address to the nation at the National Day of Prayer, said that he was often asked why God allow suffering, and he confessed that he did not have an answer that was acceptable to his own satisfaction.

The Bible is filled with answers that are so important to us in these hours of intensive grief and suffering, and will be of guidance to us as we respond to our situation. The Bible provides us an historical perspective on the events of this day, for religious wars are nothing new to mankind, if indeed that is what this is. The first such war was between brothers, Cain and Abel, who had a religious disagreement. God knew that Cain was dealing with an appetite for evil. He came and He visited Cain and confronted him and said, evil is crouching at your door and wants to take you. Did God know that Tuesday's attack would happen? The answer is unequivocally yes. God knows everything. God does not create evil. Sometimes God allows evil, and God through His sovereignty and wisdom can take that which is intended for evil and use it for good.

Joseph, as a young man, was sold into slavery by his brothers. And when an older man, his brothers came to him and he said what you intended for evil, God has used for good, because God has brought me to this place that our family might be saved alive. What you intended for evil God has used for good.

On Friday some of the pastors of San Bruno met together at Baker's Square for a roundtable discussion, our thoughts and plans in meeting and serving the needs of our congregations here in San Bruno. Pastor Ed Benitez of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, whose wife is one of our school staff, observed that when tragedy strikes several things happen. Our priorities are tested. What seemed so important just a moment ago, has now become trivial in the light of a greater issue. How often we've heard stories of men lying in their deathbed reevaluating the priorities that they have posed in their life, wishing that they had spent more time with their families and less time at work. Our priorities are tested.

Our loyalties are tested. Not hours before, political opponents were scheming against each other as to how to advance their agenda. Now they stand united on the steps of the Capitol with a common purpose and a common goal. Our loyalties are tested.

Our securities are tested. Suddenly our bank accounts, our properties, our job or business seem very fragile indeed. One interviewed woman said I don't know if I can't ever feel secure again. The fact of the matter is that we have never been secure. We're just more aware of that fact now. Where can we find true security? The answer to that is no place in this world. Jesus said lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal. That is a reference to natural and man-made disasters. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break in nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. God can work through tribulation to bring about good.

Romans 8:28 is a verse that is very familiar to many as a source of encouragement. It reads, and we know that all things work together for good to them who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose. And it continues by saying, for whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. God uses adversity to cause change in us so that we can become more like Jesus. There is much confusion in our land now as to how we ought to respond to the challenge at hand. There is a call for rage and retribution and violence. There is a call for love and charity. How then should we respond?

It is most important that we distinguish the responsibilities of government from the responsibilities of the individual. Prior to the Genesis flood there was no civil government. God's word says I, My spirit, will no longer contend with man for his heart is continually disposed towards violence. Prior to the flood there was no civil government. God's spirit government mankind. After the flood God said, Genesis 9, whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood the shed; For in the image of God has God created man. God authorize the establishment of civil governments for the purpose of protecting against the shedding of innocent blood.

We are familiar with the Ten Commandments found in Exodus chapter 20. The fifth commandment of which states thou shalt not murder. In some translations, thou shalt not kill. In the original language, thou shalt not shed innocent blood. God has established capital punishment under certain circumstances, those are described in Exodus chapter 21 and following. Exodus 21:14 reads, this is the word of the Lord, if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from My alter and put him to death. Now there is a universal understanding, for many centuries and many lands, that someone can find sanctuary in a place of worship if they are being pursued. God says if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from My alter and put him to death. There is no place of sanctuary for such a man.

We live in difficult times and in this environment this is fertile soil for mischief. I'm reminded of the words of Benjamin Franklin who declared, those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. And the words of Edmund Burke, who in 1784 said, the people never give up their liberties, but under some delusion. Let the wise be wary and may God give our leaders wisdom. These are the responsibilities of government, not to secure vengeance, but to secure justice. But what about our responsibilities as individuals? For some day we will stand before God and be responsible for the ways in which we conduct ourselves in this event.

Billy Graham said, in the Christian life Christ demands that we take a stand. There is no neutral ground with God. You're either for Me or against Me, He says. He puts you in a corner and you have to decide. You have to come to the point where you have committed everything you've got; He becomes Lord. Lord of our lives -- Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ commanded us, hear this word of the Lord, you've heard it said love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I tell you love your enemies and pray for those who persecuted you that you may be the sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you what reward will you get? Are not even tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be therefore perfect even as your Father, which is in heaven, is perfect.

Jesus commanded us and called us to do something that is one of our greatest challenges to obedience. He called us to love our enemies. He modeled this as He hung on Calvary's cross. He had been sentenced unjustly and treated violently. He was the target of cruel verbal abuse and mocking, and yet He said, Father, forgive them for they know not what they're doing. They don't know what they're doing. I'm reminded of scenes of young Palestinian children waving flags and applauding the carnage in America, and my senses were stunned. How could any child get such satisfaction watching the suffering of others? And the only answer that I can see is that these young children have been thoroughly indoctrinated with hatred from their very birth. They know nothing else. They do not know what they are doing.

The terrorists are people who have been deluded with a false god, a false religion, a false purpose in life, false promises, and a false heaven. They are living in the darkness so dark they think that it's light. They are blinded by hatred. Beware, hatred is contagious. Our natural reaction is for revenge, fire in our eyes and hatred in our souls. Vengeance tells us they know exactly what they're doing and we want them to pay for it, but we must overcome our natural reaction and with the help of God provide a supernatural reaction. You see, we are not our own. We have been bought with a price. We have been called to a purpose. We have been given an honor and responsibility to represent God's kingdom. God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ not counting men's sins against them, and He has committed to us to message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us, we implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God.

John 3:16 doesn't say God so loved the Christian. It didn't say God so loved good people. It says God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The great apostle Paul writes, love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, share with God's people who are in need, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceded. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written it is Mine to avenge. I will repay says the Lord.

On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. We've been called out of mediocrity. We have been called to rise to our position and calling of ambassadors of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Each of us interacts daily, is not weekly, with people from the Middle East in the course of our week. These are our neighbors and this is a tense time, and many of them have concerns for the welfare of their families. Most of the Middle Eastern people who live in the United States are Christians, and they have come here to escape the religious and political persecution and depression that is so prevalent in the Middle East. Perhaps now is the time to extend the genuine hand of friendship.

Jesus was asked His opinion for the reason for certain natural and man initiated tragedies in Luke chapter 13, and some of His response was this, listen: Repent, Repent. Look at your condition and measure yourself against the yardstick of God's word and then change your ways and get right with God. Hebrews 9:27 says it's appointed unto man once to die, and after this is the judgment. Each of the people who died in planes or on the ground that day had an appointment with death. When they got up that morning they didn't know it. They thought it would be another day at the office or another day of traveling. You have an appointment with death, and you don't know the day or the hour. Jesus says repent, repent. Live each day like it may be your last. Someone has said keep your bags packed for heaven.

Now perhaps there are those among us this morning who are looking for truth. You're looking for something in life that gives you stability, something that you can place your faith in; you need to prepare for your appointment. You need Jesus. You need Jesus. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. You need Jesus. After the Oklahoma bombing, Billy Graham said I can't answer the question, why do these things happen? I can only say it's better to go through them with God than to go through them without Him. Perhaps one reason for tragedy is that it spurs us to look for answers, and in looking for answers to find the Christ. We have difficult times ahead. Our nation is in need of healing. The good news is we have a promise; if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Let us pray. Lord thank you for Your word which provides such consolation in these times. It gives us guidance and directions as to how to proceed as individuals and as a nation. Lord may it be that we are the instruments of peace, the salt and light that You have called us to be. Help us Lord we pray. On You we depend each and every day, in Jesus' name, together we say amen. God bless you