God Expects Us to Learn From Tragedy!

A Methodist preacher by the name of Luther Bridges was born in 1884. He married and had 3 sons. Pastor Bridges accepted an invitation to minister at a conference in Kentucky in the year 1910, so he left his family in the care of his father-in-law & made the trip to Kentucky. There, 2 wonderful weeks of ministry resulted. The last service closed with great joy and he was excited to be called to the telephone. He couldn't wait to tell his wife about all the blessings.

But it wasn't her voice on that long distance line. He listened in silence to the news that a fire had burned down the house of his father-in-law & his wife and all three of his sons had died in the blaze. That distraught man reached out to Jesus and wrote the words: "Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest name I know. Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go."

Many things about this world make it a place in which tragedy can happen either by human selfishness (freedom of choice), or natural law. Whichever way you look it, far too much tragedy has been in the news lately for comfort.

We see lives that have been cut short, such as the lives of travelers; the lives of school children; even the lives of some of the best and brightest our world has to offer. However, there is a message in all of this. God expects us to learn from tragedy. He is trying to tell us something. He is trying to tell us that...

1) There is a warning in tragedy. 

2) There is motivation in tragedy. 

3) There is remembrance in tragedy. 

We know that life is fragile (James 4:14; 1 Peter 1:24). We have no idea what tomorrow may bring (Proverbs 27:1). And that we cannot control the length of our days (Luke 12:19, 20).

With this firmly in our minds let's take a closer look at tragedy. The Bible tells us that our time for service to God is limited. Consider the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14ff). All of us have been given talents and opportunities.

But have you dealt faithfully with what the Lord has entrusted with you? Will you find yourself trying to make excuses when he comes? Here's some food for thought...Have you taught that neighbor? Have you uplifted that brother or sister? Have you supported that good brother or sister in a faraway land? Have you relieved that widow or orphan? Have you visited the sick and shut-in? Do your children remain untaught? Have you studied that Bible? Did you attend that service? Or will you simply have to say, “Well, I was going to!” 

What are you doing with your time instead? When your time comes to an end there is no better way to be found by God than in the course of doing your duty. Remember, life is very fragile. Be found doing your duty.

God teaches us by the fragile nature of this life is that our time to deal with sin is limited. We must deal with sin now!  My friends, all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2); and there are terrible consequences for failing to deal with sin (Reverend 20:11-15). But we need not despair! A plan has been given for dealing with sin (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 22:16). It must be acted on now!!

After all, the present time is stressed in scripture (2 Corinthians 6:2), and it’s too late after we die (Hebrews 9:27). The saddest thing about a life cut short is that there are no more opportunities to obey the gospel. You probably have heard of children who were prevented by their parents because they were too young. They never had the chance again. Maybe it was those who said “next Sunday.” It never came.

I wonder how many have said, “I’ll repent tomorrow.” And the Lord says, “Thou fool, this day thy life is required of thee.” You see, God is trying to tell us something in tragedy. His lessons of motivation and warning have been given. Yet, there is another message. It is a message of great abiding comfort. What is it?

It is a message that tells us that there is a life to come in which there is no tragedy. It is a message that tells us there is victory! (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; John 14:1-3; Reverend 21:1-7).

In closing, how we are affected by tragedy depends on us (Job 1:20, 21). Are we hearing the message of God in tragedy? Do you realize that life is fragile? Do you know that your time for doing God’s will is limited? Do you know that your time for dealing with sin is limited? Have you been reminded of the life of victory to come?

Prayer: Almighty God, who pours out the spirit of grace and of supplication to all who ask for it; Deliver me when I draw near to you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, so that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections, I may worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

May God be with you always,

Jennifer