He was a blind man sitting on the side of the road so he could beg from those passing by. He was born blind, and I can only imagine how bitter he must have been at the cruel trick life had played on him. Then one day, he realizes that the leaders of the new spiritual revival are talking about him. He heard them ask Jesus a question about his condition. They were asking whose fault it was. They wanted to know whose sin was being punished. There the man sat, reduced to a theological debate. It sounds just like what we heard after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck.

Might it be that the disaster of Katrina and Rita occurred so that the work of God might be seen in this world?

You have heard the comments; you may have even uttered them yourself. "God is punishing the wickedness of New Orleans." I heard that statement from religious leaders, and even from some of those who had to be evacuated. In the midst of devastation, death, and destruction ... there was a theological debate. Is it true that New Orleans, and now the Gulf Coast region, were that much more wicked than anywhere else that year? And what does that say about recent disasters?

Listen to what Jesus said about the man born blind: " ... this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." Might it be that the disaster of Katrina and Rita occurred so that the work of God might be seen in this world? I have witnessed God's people pour out their time, resources, and money to help those displaced by the storm. I have had evacuees say they had turned to God because they knew no one else to trust. I know of new Christians who might never have been receptive to Jesus except for the circumstances of disaster.

I am certainly not God, and so I do not claim to know all of his thoughts. But I know He is doing a great work at this time. I believe doors are open and hearts are receptive. Maybe these recent events have made you long for something real in your life. Perhaps you want to trust in someone who really is in control. It may be that you are ready to know life, glory, and immortality. If you are ... let me hear from you. Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

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Are you presently experiencing a new life? God's word says, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" This new life is a free gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you want to know more about this life that only Jesus can give you, sign up for one of our Bible courses. Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. You may also contact us at info@hopeforlife.org if you have questions about becoming a new creation.

 

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© 2007 Herald of Truth Ministries

Title: "Displaying the Work of God"
Author: Steve Ridgell
Publication Date: May 02, 2007

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge Helping men rediscover their masculine heart, this is a guide to understanding Christian manhood and Christian men.

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

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