This year has ended and the new year begun with catastrophic bushfires around Australia. In every state there have been devastating fires. Many people have lost their lives, over 1000 homes have been destroyed and tens of thousands of stock and countless native animals have perished. The news has been full of stories and images of the fires and many accounts have been harrowing as people stared powerlessly at the oncoming destruction. In reading many accounts, people often have referred to the experience like “being in hell”, or referring to the fire as a “monster” or a “demon”.
The power, ferocity, speed and unpredictability of the fires has overwhelmed people. It makes us realise how helpless we are in the face of such power and how quickly everything physical we own and have amassed over decades can be wiped out in minutes. Some Christians seize on these opportunities to say that God is “punishing” our nation and that the lack of rain and intensity of the fires is judgement and that we need to repent. Yet I think the reality is much more nuanced than that and we would do well to take stock and act first with compassion before we get too theological.
Throughout history many people have faced devastating times when it has seemed like they are in the “apocalypse” and that the “end of the world” is nigh. In more recent times we think of the Boxing Day Tsunami, but I am sure those who lived through the horrors of war and things like the potato blight famine were in a similar position. Yes this world will not continue forever and God has promised to make all things new. But when and how that will exactly happen is uncertain and the Bible tells us not to worry about dates and times.
Our response as Jesus followers in situations like this should be to pray for those affected and help were we can as people come to terms with their loss and grief. Yes it should remind us that what we have is fleeting and will not last, but what does last is faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love. God has not given up on this world and disasters have happened before and will happen again. We are to be the hands and feet of God and to offer practical support and love to those suffering. Yes we have the hope of God in Jesus, but we are called to offer that in love not in pious judgement and condemnation.
We should also take stock of our own lives and ask ourselves the question of where out true hope and security lies. If our house burnt down tomorrow would we still have faith in God? Would we still have hope for the future knowing that this is not our forever home. Jesus said, where your treasure is there your heart will be also. The disaster of the fires should remind us to keep finding our treasure in God and not in our material possessions which will not last. Let us be people of prayer, and people of compassion, and people of hope in 2020.
Grace and Peace - Garry