Unveiling the Spiritual Lessons from Catastrophes

Witnessing In The Shadow of Catastrophes Placing The Japanese Quake of 2011 In A Biblical Context If there is one thing we ve observed about the universe, it s that things don t happen without a cause From I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist By Norman L. Geisler, Frank Turek, David Limbaugh 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 1

We will answer four questions Was the earthquake caused? If so, what caused it? If so, then why didn t the all powerful, all knowing God of the Bible remove the cause so that it would not have happened? Is there a Spiritual lesson to be learned and to proclaim to others? 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 2

This lesson will connect the earthquake with the Gospel so you can defend God s reputation when catastrophe strikes We will simplify what seems to be complicated an analogy 1. Head west on W Avenue J toward 35th St W 259 ft 2. Take the 1st right onto 35th St W 0.5 mi 3. Take the 1st right onto W Lancaster Blvd 0.5 mi 4. Turn left at 30th St W 0.5 mi 5. Take the 1st right onto W Ave I 1.0 mi 6. Make a U-turn at 20th St W Destination will be on the right In-N-Out Burger 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 3

There is a method to doing science Known as the scientific method The system of advancing knowledge by formulating a question, collecting data about it through observation and experiment, and testing a hypothetical answer. (Encarta Dictionary) Question: Is the knowledge we seek to advance just any kind of knowledge or something specific? Francis Bacon, the father of modern science and author of the scientific method, said this about knowledge: It is a correct position that "true knowledge is knowledge by causes. From The New Organon, or True Directions concerning the interpretation of Nature by Francis Bacon [1620], p.121 Link to this book click on the link below to go there if you want to http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/b/bacon/francis/organon/chapter2.html 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 4

Cause and effect is a chain of thoughts First, start with something real any object , action, energy or thought This is the effect Second, think about what had to be in place or needed to have happened to produce the effect This is the cause There can be several parts to the cause of one effect Each cause can be thought of as an effect with it s cause, and so on, like a chain of repeated thought, until a cause that has no cause is identified the end of the chain 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 5

Can an effect cause itself? Can you think of any examples? any thing that begins must have a cause Is there a reason why the effect cannot cause itself? 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 6

The Law of Causality is undeniably true Can you think of an exception? Can anything with a beginning not have a cause? The great skeptic of Christianity David Hume wrote I never asserted so absurd a proposition as that something could arise without a cause The very process of rational thinking requires us to put together thoughts (the causes) that result in conclusions (the effects) 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 7

If anyone ever tells you he doesnt believe in the Law of Causality, simply ask that person What caused you to come to that conclusion? From I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist By Norman L. Geisler, Frank Turek, David Limbaugh 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 8

dwell there .... Ezr 6:22 LORD had caused them to rejoice, and had .... Ne 13:26 foreign women caused even him to sin. .... Job 31:16 Or have caused the eyes of the widow .... Job 31:39 Or have caused its owners to lose their .... Job 34:28 that they caused the cry of the poor .... Job 38:12 And caused the dawn to know its .... Ps 76:8 You caused judgment to be heard from .... Ps 78:13 sea and caused them to pass through, .... Ps 78:16 And caused waters to run down like .... Ps 78:26 He caused the east wind to blow .... Ps 105:24 And He caused His people to be very .... Ps 105:29 And caused their fish to die. Ps 107:29 He caused the storm to be still, .... Isa 21:2 she has caused. Isa 53:6 LORD has caused the iniquity of us all .... Isa 63:12 Who caused His glorious arm to go .... La 1:5 LORD has caused her grief Because of .... La 2:6 LORD has caused to be forgotten The .... La 2:8 He has caused rampart and wall to lament; .... La 2:17 He has caused the enemy to rejoice over .... La 3:4 He has caused my flesh and my skin .... Eze 20:26 that they caused all their firstborn to pass .... Eze 23:37 and even caused their sons, whom they bore .... Eze 31:15 Sheol I caused lamentations; I closed the deep .... Eze 37:2 He caused me to pass among them .... Eze 37:13 graves and caused you to come up out .... Da 2:38 and has caused you to rule over them .... Da 3:30 the king caused Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego to .... Da 8:10 heaven and caused some of the host and .... Mal 2:8 you have caused many to stumble by the .... Lk 13:11 a sickness caused by a spirit; and she .... 2Co 2:5 any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow .... 2Co 7:8 though I caused you sorrow by my letter, .... 1Pe 1:3 mercy has caused us to be born again .... caused is found in 49 verses in NASB Ge 2:9 LORD God caused to grow every tree that .... Ge 2:21 LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall .... Ge 8:1 and God caused a wind to pass over .... Ge 20:13 when God caused me to wander from my .... Ge 27:20 your God caused it to happen to me. .... Ge 39:3 the LORD caused all that he did to .... Ex 14:25 He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, .... Nu 16:41 who have caused the death of the LORD's .... Nu 31:16 Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through .... Dt 28:51 they have caused you to perish. 1Ki 22:52 Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. 2Ki 7:6 Lord had caused the army of the Arameans .... 2Ch 21:11 Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to .... 2Ch 21:13 and have caused Judah and the inhabitants of .... Ezr 6:12 who has caused His name to 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 9

Some examples of different words meaning to cause from Vines H4191 to cause to die H6605 to cause to flow, H2421 to cause to live H3423 to cause someone to be dispossessed G655 to cause to be abhorred G4052 to cause to excel G3726 to cause to swear G2518 to cause to stand G2127 to cause to prosper G1263, to cause to stand, G1942 to cause to appear, shine, G647 to cause to withdraw G2873 to cause toil or trouble, G3525 to cause to be of sound mind, G854 to cause to appear H and G numbers from Strongs G2115 to cause to shine, 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 10

Example: The Electric Light What caused the lights in this room to produce light? must have a working light bulb and electricity What caused the light bulb? What caused the electricity? (are the wires the cause?) An electric generator of some kind Where did the generator get its energy? Where did that energy come from? The first law of thermodynamics 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 11

The natural cause of earthquakes Stress Strain Compression Tension Shear Continental drift Sea floor spreading Elasticity Brittleness 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 12

How complete is this natural explanation? 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 13

The natural man and the spiritual man 1Cor. 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. (NASB, emphasis mine) 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 14

Foolish or not? Where in the chain of thought will the natural man and spiritual man disagree? What is the basis of their disagreement? 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 15

The spiritual cause of earthquakes and catastrophes in general Have earthquakes causing death always been present? Will they always be present? The natural man will probably say yes to both But the spiritual man will say no to both If there was a time when earthquakes did not kill people, then what caused that to change? If there will be a time in the future when earthquakes won t happen, then what will be the cause of such a change? 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 16

A time of no catastrophes Before the fall, God described His creation as very good (Gen. 1:31). Death was part of the consequences of disobeying God s command (Gen. 2:17 and 3:19, Romans 5:12) even killing for food was unnecessary Then God said, Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; [30] and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food ; and it was so (Gen. 1:29) 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 17

A time of catastrophes This is the period of time we now live in Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [19] For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, *in hope [21] that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 18

A time of without catastrophes once again in the future Rev. 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, [4] and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. Isaiah 65:25 The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent's food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain, says the LORD. 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 19

God is in control and His plan continues Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [16] For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created through Him and for Him. [17] He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [18] He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. [19] For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, [20] and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. [21] And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, [22] yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach [23] if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 20

How can God have all power and be loving and yet there be catastrophes? Some may conclude that He does not care, or perhaps that He does not even exist how could God and evil both exist at the same time? If God might have a good reason to allow evil, then it would be possible for both God and evil to exist. That reason is the curse resulting from Adam s sin 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 21

Did God cause the earthquake? What caused God to subject all creation to the curse? He is just and faithful to His Word whereby He said that He would punish disobedience Would the curse be in effect if Adam had not sinned? The cause of the curse over all creation is sin 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 22

How important is sin to God? Ponder the magnitude of the consequences that the first sin initiated over all creation Consider the sin in our lives and how the Lord must feel about it. Consider that we cannot remove the punishment we deserve for our sins Consider the sacrifice of Christ to be punished in our place. 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 23

How did God minister to Job after the catastrophes that devastated him? God restored what Job had lost (Job 42:10) But Only after Job repents of his sin beginning in verse 1 of chapter 42 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 24

Job Repents Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD and said, [2] I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. [3] Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. [4] Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me. [5] I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; [6] Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes. 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 25

Jeremiah 9 [23] Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; [24] but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, declares the LORD. 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 26

The Biblical Purpose of Catastrophes Catastrophes are to be expected in the period of time in which we live it is part of God s plan God s desire for us in light of them is to remember how much God hates sin, the cause of the curse, that stains all creation And as we remember how much He hates sin, we repent of the sin in our life, asking Christ for forgiveness and thereby obtain the inheritance of eternal life offered to His children We can then share this good news with the world In-N-Out Burger 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 27

A Prayer by John Piper in Response to the Earthquake Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. We cover our faces and kiss your omnipotent hand. We fall helpless to the floor in prayer and feel how fragile the very ground is beneath our knees. O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh. We have bodies and homes and cars and family and precious places. We know that if we were treated according to our sins, who could stand? All of it would be gone in a moment. So in this dark hour we turn against our sins, not against you. And we cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy. 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 28

Have you not encouraged us in this? Have we not heard a hundred times in your Word the riches of your kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not a thousand times withhold your judgments, leading your rebellious world toward repentance? Yes, Lord. For your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts. Grant, O God, that the wicked will forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Grant us, your sinful creatures, to return to you, that you may have compassion. For surely you will abundantly pardon. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus, your beloved Son, will be saved. May every heart-breaking loss millions upon millions of losses be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ. You are not unacquainted with your creatures' pain. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all. In Jesus you tasted loss. In Jesus you shared the overwhelming flood of our sorrows and suffering. In Jesus you are a sympathetic Priest in the midst of our pain. Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them. And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head. O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face. In Jesus merciful name, Amen. 3/18/2025 Valley Bible Church www.valleybible.net 29