Why?
I don't know, but I'll tell you what I do know

No one escapes tragedy. Some may live less tragic lives than others, but sooner or later, everyone must face tragedy. Sometimes it comes on a grand scale, like 9/11, or other times it comes on a smaller scale, like a death in the family.

Over the past week, I have been reminded of tragedy. I have heard stories of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that I cannot even comprehend. Many people's lives have been changed forever; many lives have been lost. I was also reminded of tragedy as I attended a memorial service for Bethany Rehrer in chapel last Friday.

Tragedy often forces a simple question: why? This question almost always quickly brings me to the end of my knowledge. But when I experience or observe tragedy, I find it helpful to remind myself of a few things.

First, God is in control. No matter what the tragedy, God is always in control. Even though the news of the Rehrers' deaths came as a shock to me, God was not surprised at all. He was on his throne, orchestrating every event. Also, God was in control of the exact path of Hurricane Katrina. The power of the winds are not too much for God, rather they are manifestations of his power and glory. Again we find ourselves asking, "Why?" And again, we cannot always know the answer. God is sovereign and infinitely above us. For a great John Piper article on this, click here.

Second, death comes to all. Whether it happens suddenly or after a long, full life, we all will die if the Lord tarries. Also, many times we wonder if certain deaths or catastrophes were a direct result of God's judgment. But as I was reminded this Sunday, all death is judgment. Why do we die? We die because we sin. A group of people once asked Jesus about some who had tragically died. Jesus answered, "Do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” We are all going to die; we must be ready.

Third, we have a Savior. When we realize that we will die, we are quickly confronted with our sin and therefore our need for a Savior. But the good news of the gospel is this: we have a Savior in Jesus Christ. He has paid the price for our sins, and if we believe in him, we can find eternal life. We can live with no fear of death. We can have hope in the face of tragedy.

The inevitability of tragedy shows all of us how much we do not know, and shows us our need for a Savior. Praise be to God that through Jesus Christ, we can find forgiveness, hope, and eternal life. And once again may we all remember those suffering in the Gulf States in our prayers.

(The record should note that this post was temporarily interrupted for a fire drill.)