It Was Meant To Be - Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ - Isaiah 46:10

    “Well, it was just meant to be?” How many times have we heard that comment made? When a Reformed Christian makes that comment I know what he or she is referring to, but when a devout unbeliever makes the same comment I find myself wanting to ask them, “Who meant for it to be?”
    As a North-East coast Floridian, I wasn’t spared the ire of Hurricane Irma. While my home was miraculously spared any physical damage, we were out of power for 6 unbearable days and we lost all of the contents of our refrigerator/freezer. The heat and Florida humidity were stifling so we took to a hotel until our power was restored. But ours was a minor inconvenience compared to many who lost so much in the storm. By any account, we were blessed to have lost no more than we did. We were not meant to lose more than we did. God in His beneficence granted us a welcome blessing. Many, many others were not as blessed. And so we come to the question - why were some people forced to endure so much more heartache and difficulty than others? “And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?’” - Luke 13:2.
    Thankfully, the answer to Christ’s question was a resounding, “No!” Far too often, people of faith make the mistake of thinking that the degree to which some suffer is inextricably connected to the degree of sin in their lives. We are told more than once in Scripture that this notion is patently false. “And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’  Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.’” - John 9:2-3.
    Of course, there are times when our suffering is directly connected to sin. Think of an inebriated driver in a single car crash resulting in his permanent paralysis. Or there are times when our suffering is tied to the sins of others. Think the previous scenario where an innocent victim is harmed. To the extent that the world is a fallen place, yes, sin is the cause of so much suffering. “Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:’Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.  Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.’” - Genesis 3:17-18.
    But for all the suffering in the world; whether it be the result of hurricane in Texas, Florida, or the Caribbean, or a series of earthquakes in Mexico, there is still so much to be grateful for as we, despite our sinfulness, are continually showered by the graces of a God - “who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” - Act 14: 16-17.
    And with each natural calamity the age-old question makes its appearance again - why does God let such terrible events affect so many people? While there will never be a pat answer which relieves the bewilderment of all people satisfactorily, we must in faith believe the words of Paul - “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” - Romans 8:28.  May we hold diligently to our faith even through the harshest times.