Many things we can’t control

Like forts in the wild west, and walled cities in ancient times, we try to cover all vital points with adequate defences.

Most people try to grow savings for future plans or unforeseen problems. They try to protect home, car, health, and employment with insurance. They participate in continued education and training to secure their job and promotion. They contribute to pension plans to safeguard old age.

And yet, so many are blind-sided by things outside their control. They are powerless against the forces of nature, like quakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, wild-fires, droughts, floods, snowsqualls, and extreme temperatures.

Since prehistoric times, mankind turned to gods to protect them against the forces of nature. It was a quid-proquo arrangement: we worship you if you protect us. Is it still the essence of our faith?

The Bible turned that around. God takes the initiative: He saves us, and we thank him by doing his will. In the Bible, God’s love is conditional (Deut. 28, John 6:37, 47).

The Ten Commandments were not a way by which Israel could obtain salvation; this code was a way to thank God for salvation already received by grace: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me…” (Ex. 20:2).

Likewise, faith in God and Christ, the Mediator, do not earn salvation for Christians. They are saved by grace, which they accept by faith. This faith, followed by good works, is a gift of God: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not by works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:8-10).

Despite the grace-and-faith relationship, Christians are just as exposed to calamities as followers of other religions. For some mysterious reason, God and Christ have not protected the church from persecution or natural disasters. Some say tribulation is meant to grow our faith (Rom. 5:3-4, James 1:2-4). If tribulation is a good thing, why does it not proceed in heaven, like love?

Tribulation is part of the curse God put on his creation (Gen. 1:17). All creation suffers because of it (Rom. 8:18-22). Christians, too, have to endure it, knowing that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ (Rom. 8:31-39). Eventually, the curse will be removed (Rev. 22:3).

Until then, we have to survive (physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, economically, and ecologically) in the midst of many things we cannot control. We have to trust God – only he can control everything.

Jacob Van Zyl of Lethbridge is a retired counsellor and the author of several faith-based books.