We were all saddened and shocked by the bridge that fell taking many lives in Minneapolis. How are we to understand events like this? I would like to submit a few thoughts for consideration…
Did you know that Jesus addressed a situation in his day that was virtually the exact same as what happened in Minnesota? This is found in Luke 13:1-5…
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
Now for a few thoughts…
First… Just because a tragic event happens… or happens TO a person or people… does NOT mean God is punishing or judging them. We live in a fallen and borken world because of sin. Tragedies happen in such an environment. That’s just the way life is. Jesus points this out by saying… “Do you think that these Galileans were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?” The answer is that they weren’t any different.
Second… Because we live in such a world and because life is fragile, every person needs to be ready to enter eternity every second of every minute of every day.
Third… Jesus uses the word “perish” here in a greater way than just physical death. While physical death can indeed be an unexpected tragedy… the greater tragedy would be not to prepare for what happens after physical death. To enter eternity unprepared is a much greater tragedy than dying physically when it is not expected.
Fourth… We cannot do anything about unexpected events that take our life, but we CAN do something about what our eternal state will be after physical death. And that is to repent of our sin and trust Jesus for salvation. Then no matter what the events are that bring about our death… we are safe.
UPDATE (8/8/2007): Click here for a good article by Dr. John Piper on the collapse. Click here for a response to a Rabbi’s comments about the collapse {Quite interesting!}.
Conclusions: 1) Life is fragile… stay prepared and ready to enter eternity. 2) Just because a tragedy happens to you does NOT mean you are bad, evil, or that God is punishing you. 3) Think Biblical thoughts about every event of life and then live Philippians 1:27a.