This article is written to let you know how to cope with trouble and tragedy in this life. The world is full of troubles and tragedies that no one is exempt. But God is able to save His children. The promise of our Lord Jesus Christ is better than gold.
Psa 90:10, “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years,
Yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy;
For it quickly passes, and we disappear.”
I am an old man and can testify that the Word of God is true. Our life is short. The pride of our life is only trouble and tragedy. Our life quickly passes away, and we disappear. This is the truth of God that many do not know. Trouble in Hebrew is ʿāmāl which means labor; mischief; misery; travail; sorrow; grievance; pain; perverseness; wickedness; toil; worry; suffering; wearisomeness; vexation; anguish; – which occurs 55 times in the Old Testament. Tragedy in Hebrew is ‘āven which means iniquity; vanity; affliction; wickedness; mischief; evil; sorrow; emptiness; misfortune; calamity; – which occurs 79 times in the Old Testament. I am old and I have never met a person who has no trouble and tragedy. I have known people who have troubles upon troubles, tragedies upon tragedies AND distresses upon distresses.
COVID-19 (+OMICRON) alone proves to be trouble and tragedy for millions in the world to this day.
Even after the FALL of Adam and CURSE, the world would be better off if it were not evil and destructive deeds of mankind.
Suppose you were born in a big European mansion with all amenities, maids and servants. You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Little you know that the wealth and riches of Europe were looted and robbed from their colonies. You see nice palaces and beautiful buildings and gardens in Europe, you did not see or know the abject poverty of European colonies in Asia, Africa and Latin America. You may fancy you are superior white; therefore your life is sweet and pleasant; but sooner or later you will be bitterly disappointed. For no one can escape the trouble and tragedy in this life. Even the rich and powerful have no exception. This is the truth of God. You will not be exempt from trouble and tragedy in this life; for man is born for trouble. Trouble is nearer than you think. When you know it, it becomes your tragedy.
Natural disasters such as earthquake, hurricane, tornado, flood, drought, locusts, like Tonga’s volcano eruption and tsunami, etc. can create trouble and tragedy for many. There are also many man-made disasters that can create trouble and tragedy for you. For example, London’s Killer Fog, the Nuclear Power Plant Explosion in Chernobyl, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, the Three Mile Island Nuclear Explosion, the BHOPAL GAS LEAK, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, etc.
I. LIFE IS FULL OF TROUBLE
Job 14:1-2, “Man, who is born of woman,
Is short-lived and full of turmoil. Like a flower he comes out and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.”
Turmoil in Hebrew is rōḡez which means trouble; rage; noise; fear; wrath; trembling; trepidation; agitation; restlessness; perturbation; in German is Sturm und Drang; – which occurs 7 times in the Old Testament. Every man who is born of a woman is short-lived and full of turmoil. Turmoil is synonymous with trouble. Like a flower man comes out and withers. Man also flees like a shadow and does not remain. The man who lived longest in the world was Gen 5:27, “So all the days of Methuselah were 969 years, and he died.”
Even you do not trouble trouble, trouble will trouble you. No one can outrun death.
Gen 3:17, “Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; with hard labor you shall eat from it all the days of your life.”
Since the Fall of Adam, the world has been cursed. Man shall have hard labor all the days of his life. I believe the curse also includes bacteria and viruses, flies and mosquitoes, etc.
The following Scriptures describe the futility of a man’s life:
Job 7:1-6, “Is a person not forced to labor on earth,
And are his days not like the days of a hired worker?
As a slave pants for the shade, and as a hired worker who eagerly waits for his wages, so I am allotted worthless months, and nights of trouble are apportioned to me. “When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night continues,
And I am continually tossing until dawn.
“My flesh is clothed with maggots and a crust of dirt,
My skin hardens and oozes. “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.”
The life of an unbeliever is without God and without hope in this world.
“trouble”
occurs 80 times in 80 verses in the NASB20.
Page 1 / 2 exact matches (Gen 34:30–Psa 143:11)
Gen 34:30, “Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me repulsive among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since my men are few in number, they will band together against me and attack me, and I will be destroyed, I and my household!”
Do you realize you can bring trouble on yourself and your family? There are strength in number. The wicked always bands together to attack others.
Exo 5:19, “The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble, since they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”
Egyptians were the first who practiced forced labor and quota. Today in America white and black supervisors also practice abuses to bring trouble and tragedy on many corporate employees. Especially those house slaves are the employees who have bought houses and they have monthly mortgage to pay. Those employees are so afraid of losing their jobs and so they are willing to bear abuses by their supervisors. Losing jobs will lose their homes –that is a frightening prospect. Because losing job means losing income, losing income means their inability to pay mortgage. Without paying mortgage, they will lose their homes.
Num 33:55, “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from you, then it will come about that those whom you let remain of them will be like thorns in your eyes and like pricks in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live.”
Today in Israel there are Arabs, Palestinians, and Hamas who live in the Jewish land, they are like thorns in the eyes of Israel and like pricks in the sides of Israel. They trouble the Jews in their own land.
America and its allies are also like thorns in the eyes of many nations and like pricks in their sides. America arms the Ukrainians and wants them to become NATO member are like thorns in the eyes of Russians and like pricks in their sides.
Deu 26:7, “Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our wretched condition, our trouble, and our oppression.”
In ancient times, Egyptians oppressed the children of Israel, creating wretched condition and trouble. God heard their voice and sent Moses to lead them out of the land of slavery.
Many unproductive, backward, underdeveloped, and unmotivated countries and peoples are in wretched condition, their troubles are self-made because of corrupt leaders, civil wars, natural and man-made disasters. However, there are also many weaker countries and peoples, their wretched conditions, troubles are due to American oppression and the oppression of American allies.
Knowingly or unknowingly, America is the sole trouble-maker in the world. America deliberately creates troubles for China and Russia. In the last 500 years Western nations have caused troubles and tragedies. Since the infamous Opium Wars, China has been oppressed by the West to this day. America used its superior military, financial, economic, technological, diplomatic, and trade powers to sanction and oppress many weaker nations and peoples. America has become troubles and tragedies of many weaker nations and peoples. So naturally, America is the most hated nation on earth. American leaders and politicians seem to like making troubles for other nations and peoples. America is looking for trouble in all the world.
1Sa 13:6, “When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble (for the people were hard-pressed), then the people kept themselves hidden in caves, in crevices, in cliffs, in crypts, and in pits.”
Historically, the people of Israel were so hard-pressed by the Philistines that they kept themselves hidden in caves, in crevices, in cliffs, in crypts, and in pits. Trouble and tragedy were not enough to describe their desperate situation.
Job 5:7, “For man is born for trouble,
As sparks fly upward.”
This is the truth of God: man is born for trouble. Sparks fly upward, never downward. Job 5:6, “For disaster does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground.”
A wise and old man said, Job 4:8, “According to what I have seen, those who plow wrongdoing and those who sow trouble harvest it.”
Gal 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.”
No one can escape the truth of God. Times of trouble will find you.
Psa 55:3, “Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the pressure of the wicked;
For they bring down trouble upon me
And in anger they hold a grudge against me.”
There are the pressure of the wicked, for they bring down trouble upon you. The rich can have the iron gates and bodyguards to protect them from the wicked.
1Co 7:28, “But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people as yourselves will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.”
Married or single, people will have trouble in this life.
Isa 59:4, “No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly.
They trust in confusion and speak lies;
They conceive trouble and give birth to disaster.”
There are leaders and politicians in the West who trust in confusion and speak lies; the conceive trouble and give birth to disaster.
Jer 20:18, “Why did I ever come out of the womb
To look at trouble and sorrow,
So that my days have been spent in shame?”
Those questions suit a certain group of people. Why did they ever come out of the womb to look at trouble and sorrow, so that their days have been spent in shame?
Mat 6:34, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
How true! Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Nah 1:7, “The LORD is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.”
Zep 1:15, “That day is a day of anger,
A day of trouble and distress,
A day of destruction and desolation,
A day of darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and thick darkness.”
I believe the Scriptures cited are about the Day of God’s judgment.
Act 15:19, “Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God.”
Not only we do not cause trouble for those who are turning to God, we should help them. There are only kinds of people, those who cause trouble, and those who solve trouble. What kind are you?
Here was one who knew how not to create troubles on himself. John Stuart Mill said, “I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them.” Socrates said about the same thing, “The secret of happiness, you see is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” I usually agree with Seneca who said, “The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.”
Like it or not, man contributes more to his/her trouble and tragedy than anything else. Whatever kind of person produces whatever kind of life. Whatever kind of life produce whatever kind of fate. People are not content with his lot because there are not many wise men in this world.
I agree with Fyodor Dostoyevsky who said, “Man only
likes to count his troubles; he doesn’t calculate his happiness.”
On the surface, you do not know still water runs deep. One philosopher said, “I don’t know why we are here…” Christians must know why they are in the world. For Jesus says, Jhn 20:21, “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you; just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Christians have a mission. Jesus sends Christians on a mission. Mar 16:15-16, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.” We fearfully proclaim the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ on the Internet absolutely free to all.
Jhn 17:11, “I AM no longer going to be in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are.”
I am ashamed of Christians world-wide who are divisive according to organization and denomination. I am willing to be one with all those who truly believe in Jesus Christ and who practice righteousness. For Jesus says again,
Jhn 17:14, “I have given them Your Word; and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world.”
Everyone in the world belongs to the world. Christians are in the world but do not belong to the world. So Christians cope with trouble and tragedy in a different way because Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.
II. TRAGEDIES WILL FALL
Historically tragedies fall on many lives, the righteous and the wicked. We will learn from the Holy Bible the tragedies of the righteous.
Joseph was born well, being the beloved son of Rachel and Jacob.
Gen 37:3, “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a multicolored tunic.”
The young and inexperienced Joseph did not realize his father’s love and his outrageous and self-centered dreams only earned hatred from his older ten brothers. Many times people did not realize that jealousy may breed evil.
One day Jacob sent Joseph to see his brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem. To make a long story short, his brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver as a slave to Egypt. The ten cruel sons fake the evidence that a vicious animal might have devoured Joseph. Their old father mourned and wept for Joseph many days.
To make a long story short again, the Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. His master’s wife had her eyes on Joseph, and wanted to have sex with Joseph. Because Joseph feared God and refused her; Joseph was falsely accused and sent to prison.
To make a long story short again, because God had given Joseph the ability to interpret the Pharaoh’s dream; Joseph was elevated to become a Ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.
Gen 41:51, “Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh; “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all of my father’s household.”
In the apex of Joseph’s fame and fortune, he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble.”
This is a triumphant experience God may give to any of His children.
One lesson we may learn from Joseph is the truth, Gen 50:20-21, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.
“So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”
The life of Joseph teaches a precious truth of God: God is able to cause all things to work together for our own good.
The life of Naomi was a life of trouble and tragedy. Due to a famine in the land, Elimelech, and his wife, Naomi; and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, went to the land of Moab and remained there. To make a long story short, unfortunately, Naomi’s husband and later two sons also died. Naomi therefore told her two daughters-in-law to return to their mothers’ house.
Naomi voiced her own tragedy that can break your heart.
Rth 1:11-13, “But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
“Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I were even to have a husband tonight and also give birth to sons, would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has come out against me.”
Ruth was one of the most beautiful women who ever lived in history. Her words would make you cry.
Rth 1:16-18, “But Ruth said, “Do not plead with me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you sleep, I will sleep. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
“Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD do so to me, and worse, if anything but death separates me from you.”
When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her about it.”
These were the words of a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law. Would any man to have been so lucky to have a woman said the same thing to him? All the fortunes of England were not good enough to exchange it. A thousand princesses cannot make one Ruth.
Rth 1:20-21, “But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
“I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
Naomi in Hebrew is nāʿŏmî which means pleasant; Naomi = “my delight”; my pleasantness; – which occurs 21 times in the Old Testament. The story turned out well.
Rth 2:11-13, “Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.
“May the LORD reward your work, and may your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
Then she said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not like one of your female servants.”
Rth 4:13-15, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.
“May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
Naomi turned out to have a pleasant life after all. She had some Redeemer who restored life and sustained her old age. Unprecedented in the history of mankind that there has never been a daughter-in-law who is better than seven sons. It will never be in the future that a daughter-in-law is better than seven sons to the mother-in-law. Bitter life turned into sweet for Naomi.
I do not know what Naomi said was true or not, “the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” I believe a good Christian should never say that. There are more Mara (bitterness) than Naomi (pleasantness) in life. However, under whatever circumstances Christians must always believe what Jesus says, 2Co 12:9, “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
There are many tragedies in this life, including family tragedy. There was a wonderful family of three members, Martha, Mary and Lazarus who lived in a village called Bethany. This is not an ordinary family, because Jesus Christ loved them so much.
Luk 10:38-42, “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His Word.
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.”
But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Have you welcomed Jesus into your home? Do you know only one thing is necessary? Listening to the Word of the Lord is the one thing necessary. Have you chosen the good part?
Jhn 11:1-45, “Now a certain man was sick: Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God God may be glorified by it.” (Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.) So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and yet You are going there again?”
Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone
walks during the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” This He said, and after this He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may awaken him from sleep.”
The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will come out of it.” Now Jesus had
spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus died, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let’s go to him.” Therefore Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s also go, so that we may die with Him!” So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away;
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them about their brother. So then Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed in the house. Martha then
said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise from the dead.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I AM the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, and He who comes into the world.” When she
had said this, she left and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard this, she got up quickly and came to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still at the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw that Mary had gotten up quickly and left, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there. So when Mary came to the place where Jesus was, she saw Him and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus wept. So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!”But some of them said, “Could this man, who opened the eyes of the man who was blind, not have also kept this man from dying?”
So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” Out came the man
who had died, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
(Mat 26:1–5; Mar 14:1, 2; Luk 22:1, 2 )
Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.”
There is no family like the family of Bethany, Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Very little is known about them; nothing is said about their parents, apparently had passed away. Nothing is said about their social background, although they lived in a village, yet they were able to serve the Lord and His disciples with food. The important thing about this family is the fact that Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus. Every family has a tear. There are many hidden precious truth in the Scriptures cited above.
1. The time may come where a member of the family is sick. On the day of trouble you can send word to the Lord.
2. Though they were not rich, yet Mary anointed the Lord with costly ointment and wiped His feet with her hair.
3. The Lord said, “This sickness is not meant for…” There are many troubles and tragedies in life; but we do not know This … is not meant for … Only the Lord can interpret what is happening to our lives.
4. Many delays can be God’s way of intervention so that we may believe.
5. ”Let’s go to Judea again.” The Lord may lead to where we are afraid to go.
6. What do we do to be entitled to be “friend” of Jesus?
7. Some believers like Didymus may have opinion that we do not understand.
8. This small family was so remarkable that many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them about their brother. They actually wept with them.
9. After Lazarus had died four days, Martha said to Jesus, Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give you. Do not forget there are many “Even now” in our lives.
10. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Christ will live, even if he dies, do you believe this?
11. The right answer to whatever Jesus says is: Yes, Lord.
12. Whatever we want to say to Jesus, let us fall at His feet.
13. Jesus wept. It was the first time and the last time that it is written that Jesus wept. No reason or explanation was given why Jesus wept. Was it because of our unbelief or something else? Whatever it was, it must be significant.
14. Remove the stone. Anything that obstructs the doing of the Lord must be removed.
15. It is natural that a man who has been dead four days by this time there will be a stench.
16. God always hears Jesus Christ.
17. Lazarus, come out! The dead hears the voice of the Lord of life.
18. Unbind him, and let him go. The living must be free to go.
III. SOME TRAGEDIES IN THE WORLD
Some historical tragedies in the world that once you see the pictures, you will never forget:
According to
Photo credit: allthatsinteresting.com
“This disturbing photograph is just one piece of evidence of the atrocities that occurred in the Andersonville Prison, eventually known as the worst prisoner-of-war camp ever in the US. Soldiers were fed regularly; prisoners were not.[10]
The man in this image, a Union Army soldier, barely survived the Andersonville Prison after wasting away from hunger during the US Civil War. He was eventually released in May 1865.”
According to https://listverse.com/2020/05/09/top-10-haunting-images-of-historic-tragedies/
The Rana Plaza Collapse
Photo credit: rijans
“The deadliest structural failure accident in modern history occurred in April 2013, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The infamous Boston Marathon bombing occurred the week before and garnered much media coverage with its three deaths and hundreds of wounded. But the collapse of this Bangladeshi building was a tragedy on a different order of magnitude: 1,134 people were killed, with more than twice as many injured.”
According to https://listverse.com/2020/05/09/top-10-haunting-images-of-historic-tragedies/
Photo credit: National Museum of Health and Medicine
“It seems absurd to describe a worldwide pandemic with a 50 million-plus death toll as “forgotten.” Indeed, in its day, the effect was very widely felt. Yet the strange aspect here is now little of a historical footprint this rampaging illness made. It seemed to disappear into distant memory very quickly.”
According to https://www.thoughtco.com/worlds-worst-disasters
Top Ten Worst Disasters in the World
There is debate as to what the deadliest disasters of all time actually are, due to discrepancies in death tolls, especially with disasters that occurred outside of the last century. Following is a list of ten of the deadliest disasters in recorded history, from lowest to highest estimated death toll.
10. Aleppo Earthquake (Syria 1138) – 230,000 dead
9. Indian Ocean Earthquake/Tsunami (Indian Ocean 2004) – 230,000 dead
8. Haiyun Earthquake (China 1920) – 240,000 dead
7. Tangshan Earthquake (China 1976) – 242,000 dead
6. Antioch Earthquake (Syria and Turkey 526) – 250,000 dead
5. India Cyclone (India 1839) – 300,000 dead
4. Shaanxi Earthquake (China 1556) – 830,000 dead
3. Bhola Cyclone (Bangladesh 1970) – 500,000-1,000,000 dead
2. Yellow River Flood (China 1887) – 900,000-2,000,000 dead
1. Yellow River Flood (China 1931) – 1,000,000-4,000,000 dead
IV. RULES TO FOLLOW
These RULES are good to FOLLOW before you get into trouble or after you get into trouble and tragedy.
1. Do not bring trouble on yourself.
It is awful that many do not know that they can bring troubles on themselves. There are infinite ways a person can bring trouble on himself/herself.
I can only give you some examples:
A man lives above his means. He buys what he cannot afford. He incurs debt to fund his luxurious life style. He borrows from friends and relatives, sinks deeper and deeper in debt that he has no way to get out of it.
A man drinks and smokes and overweight which create diseases for himself.
A married man but he seeks prostitutes, not only he wastes a lot of money and he is infected.
A student who wishes to attend a university, but he never studies and fails the entrance exam.
A young woman gets pregnant but her boyfriend neither wants nor can he support her and baby.
2. Be frugal and thrifty.
3. Minimize your loss.
4. Do not aggravate your situation.
5. Do not fall into debt trap.
6. Do not take on burden you cannot bear.
7. Do not enslave yourself.
8. Do not bring trouble to yourself and your family.
9. Be protective and never destructive.
10. All cultures have flaws; do not follow your cultural defects.
11. Do not loosely and leisurely give your word to the Lord, for you cannot take it back.
12. Do not promise something you cannot keep.
13. Be responsible.
Here is an example. A man has raised many children, but he never spent money, effort and time to educate his children. Consequently without skills his children are employed and cannot do well in this world. Here is a case of an irresponsible parent.
Another example, a women who bore many children without husbands to love her and support their children. The woman is on welfare, the more children she bears the more welfare she receives. Her daughters follow her step and also have children without husbands. The evil circles continues many generations.
14. Be careful what you sow. You will reap what you sow.
15. Learn good habits. Finish your job.
16. Be methodical; and put things where they belong. For example, if you put tableware in the bedroom, no one will find them.
17. Put the right thing in the right place, so that it will be easy to find.
18. Be diligent and industrious so you can help yourself in whatever you do.
19. You need the language skills in order to speak and write correctly.
20. Honesty is the best policy.
21. Remove all obstacles of your life.
22. Help the helpless so that on the day of trouble you may be helped.
23. Know the proper time and procedure.
24. Do not make the truth to suit yourself, make yourself to suit the truth. For example, a man likes many women sexually and so he becomes a Mormon or Muslim.
V. CHRISTIAN WAY OF LIFE
It is not stressed enough that the way of life for Christians is very different than peoples of the world. The Christian way of life is influenced by the Word of God and controlled by the Will of God. If you do not know the Word of God and do not obey the Will of God, it is in vain that you call yourself a Christian.
Jhn 14:19, “After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live.”
Christians are not afraid of death because our Redeemer lives and we will also live.
2Co 13:4, “For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we too are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.”
Jas 4:15, “Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
Col 3:2, “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.
Col 3:3, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Col 3:4, “When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
Gen 41:51, “Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh; “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all of my father’s household.”
It is most gratifying when God made you forget all your trouble in the past.
Two things are most important to Christian way of life are the Word of God and the Will of God.
What Christians do with the Word of God:
(1.) Hear the Word.
Isa 28:14 , “Therefore hear the Word of the LORD, you scornful men, who rule this people who are in Jerusalem.”
Isa 66:5 , “Hear the Word of the LORD, you who tremble at His Word: Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name’s sake, said: Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy. But they shall be ashamed.”
Jesus says, Mat 13:9 , “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Rom 10:17 , “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
Note: Hear the Word means to listen to what God says and obey the Word of God. The Holy Bible is the Word of God.
(2.) Pay attention to the Word.
2Pe 1:19 , “And we have the Word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
Note: Pay attention in Greek is prosechō which means to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive, give attention to, take heed, devote thought and effort to; – it occurs about 24 times in the New Testament. You do well to pay attention to the Word of God which a light like the morning star that shines in your hearts.
(3.) Believe the Word.
Act 4:4 , “However, many of those who heard the Word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
Note: Believe in Greek is pisteuō which means to think to be true, to be persuaded of, place confidence in, trust in Jesus or God as able to aid; – it occurs about 248 times in the New Testament. To believe the Word is to take God at His Word.
Act 15:7 ,“And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.”
Note: It is the duty of man to hear the Word of the Gospel and believe.
Eph 1:13 , “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
Note: To hear the Word of truth, the Gospel of our salvation and believe is to be sealed to receive the Holy Spirit.
(4.) Receive the Word.
Act 8:14 , “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.”
Note: Receive in Greek is dechomai which means to take hold of, take up, give ear to, embrace, approve, make one’s own; – it occurs 59 times in the New Testament. We must receive the Word of God.
Act 17:11 , “These were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”
Note: Readiness in Greek is prothymia which means readiness of mind, eagerness, zeal, spirit, inclination; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament. Search the Scriptures and receive the Word with readiness of mind and eagerness.
1Th 1:6, “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.”
Note: For followers of Jesus Christ to receive the Word in affliction means to suffer for the Lord and to be with joy of the Holy Spirit.
1Th 2:13, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
Note: The Word of God is the Word of truth.
(5.) Desire the Word.
1Pe 2:2 , “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby.”
Note: Desire in Greek is epipotheō which means to long for, pursue with love, long after; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. As newborn babes desire the milk so Christians should desire the pure milk of the Word. The Word is vital for spiritual growth. Christians are to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ. Knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God are essential for Christian growth.
(6.) Taste the Word.
Hbr 6:5 , “And have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come.”
Note: Taste in Greek is geuomai which means to try the flavor of, partake of, enjoy, feel and experience; – it occurs about 15 times in the New Testament. The taste of the Word of God is good because of its promises and blessings. If you are a child of God, you must have experienced the divine providence and how God has blessed and helped you in many ways.
(7.) Keep the Word.
Luk 11:28 , “But He said: More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!”
Note: Keep here in Greek is phylassō which means to guard, watch, keep watch, guard i.e. care for, take care not to violate, observe; – it occurs about 30 times in the New Testament.
1Jo 2:5 , “But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him.”
Note: Keep in Greek is tēreō which means to attend to carefully, take care of, observe of God’s or Christ’s command; – it occurs about 75 times in the New Testament. To keep the Word is to obey the commandments of God and do the will of God.
(8.) Remember the Word.
Jhn 15:20 , “Remember the Word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My Word, they will keep yours also.”
Note: Remember in Greek is mnēmoneuō which means to be mindful of, call to mind, hold in memory, keep in mind, make mention of; – it occurs about 21 times in the New Testament. Christians must remember the Word that Jesus said in the New Testament and keep it. To remember the Word of Christ you have to keep it in your heart. Here “yours” refers what the apostles later said and wrote in the New Testament. It does not mean what church leaders, theologians or pastors say.
(9.) Obey the Word.
Jos 24:24 , “The people said to Joshua: We will serve the LORD our God and we will obey His voice. ”
Note: Obey in Hebrew is shama`which means to hear, listen to, consent, agree, yield to, be obedient, give heed; – it occurs about 1,159 times in the Old Testament. God’s voice and God’s word mean the same. To obey God’s voice is to obey His Word.
2Th 1:8 , “Dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
Note: Obey in Greek is hypakouō which means to be obedient to, submit to, harken to a command; – it occurs 21 times in the New Testament. To obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus is to obey the Word. Those who do not obey will receive retribution. Retribution in Greek is ekdikēsis which means vengeance, punishment; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. What punishment for those who do not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ says, Mat 25:46 , “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Punishment in Greek is kolasis which means correction, penalty; – it occurs only 2 times in the New Testament. What is eternal punishment? Body and soul suffer in Hell forever.
(10.) Be doers of the Word.
Jam 1:22 , “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Note: Doer in Greek is poiētēs which means a performer, practitioner, one who obeys or fulfills the law; – it occurs only 6 times in the New Testament. One who hears the Word, but does not do it, deceives himself. A good illustration is the Western powers that claim to be Christian, but they practice imperialism, colonialism, capitalism, and hegemonism which are totally contrary to the Word of God.
Luk 6:46 , “Why do you call Me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Be doer of the Word is to do what the Lord says.
(11.) Hold firm the Word.
Phl 2:16 , “Holding out the Word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
Note: Hold out in Greek is epechō which means to have or hold upon, hold toward, hold forth; – it occurs only 5 times in the New Testament.
Tts 1:9 ,“Holding firm the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.”
Note: Hold firm in Greek is antechō which means to hold to firmly, cleave to; – it occurs only 4 times in the New Testament. Believers must hold out and hold firm the Word of life in this ungodly world.
(12.) Speak the Word.
Act 4:31 , “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.”
Note: Speak in Greek is laleō which means to utter a voice or emit a sound, use the tongue or the faculty of speech, talk, tell, use words in order to declare one’s mind and disclose one’s thoughts, make known by speaking; – it occurs about 296 times in the New Testament. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not meant to speak in tongues, but to speak the Word of God with boldness. Boldness in Greek is parrēsia which means freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech, open, frankly, free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, assurance; – it occurs about 31 times in the New Testament.
Act 16:32 ,“Then they spoke the Word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.”
Phl 1:14 , “And most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.”
Note: What is the difference between speaking the Word and preaching the Word. Speaking the Word is informal, preaching the Word is formal. We should pray that the Word of God can be proclaimed everywhere without fear. In some countries that have state religion, you will lose your life or your head to preach the Word of God. If one of their citizens is converted to Christianity, he/she will be beheaded. That kind of oppressive religion should be outlawed in all civilized nations. Religious freedom should mean preaching and practicing the Gospel of Jesus Christ without fear.
(14.) Preach the Word.
Act 8:4 , “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.”
Note: Preach in Greek is euaggelizō which means to evangelize, bring good news, announce glad tidings, proclaim glad tidings; – it occurs about 55 times in the New Testament. There is a wrong idea among believers. They think to preach the Word is only the job of preachers. Christians everywhere must preach the Word to unbelievers.
Act 8:25 ,“So when they had testified and preached the Word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”
Act 15:35 ,“Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of the Lord, with many others also.”
2Ti 4:2 , “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
Note: Here the word preach is kēryssō which means to be a herald, to officiate as a herald, publish, proclaim openly; – it occurs about 61 times in the New Testament. The Gospel of Jesus Christ can be preached by TV, radio, movie, printed matter, record, DVD, and the Internet.
(15.) Spread the Word.
Act 13:49 ,“And the Word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.”
Note: Spread in Greek is diapherō which means to bear or carry through any place, carry in different directions, to different places, spread abroad; – it occurs about 13 times in the New Testament. Preachers must preach the Gospel; all Christians must spread the Word. Today the Internet is the most effective and fastest means of spreading the Word of the Lord throughout the world, and the cheapest means.
(16.) Bear witness to the Word.
Act 14:3 ,“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”
Note: Bear witness in Greek is martyreō which means to testify, affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something, be a witness of the truth; – it occurs about 79 times in the New Testament. Every born-again Christian is a witness to the Word of His grace; even most believers do not have the gift of performing signs and miracles. A Christian life is a living testimony to the grace and power of God.
(17.) Teach the Word.
Act 18:11 ,“And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.”
Note: Teach in Greek is didaskō which means to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses, impart instruction, instill doctrine into one, explain or expound a thing; – it occurs about 97 times in the New Testament. Not everyone can teach the Word. Ministers must be equipped to teach sound doctrines. The strangest things are professors of theology and ministers who do not know the Word but teach everything to deny and repudiate the Word. Such are false teachers. You wonder why they exist in seminaries and churches today. Actually it is a fulfilled prophecy,
Jud 1:4 , “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2Pe 2:1 ,“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” Any doctrine that denies Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world is a destructive heresy and false doctrine.
(18.) Labor in the Word.
1Ti 5:17 ,“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the Word and doctrine. ”
2Ti 2:15 , “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Note: This task is assigned to the preachers and Bible teachers. Labor in Greek is kopiaō which means to toil with wearisome effort; – it occurs about 23 times in the New Testament. What I am trying to do is to put the Word and fundamental doctrines of Christianity on the Internet absolutely free, rightly dividing the Word of truth, proclaiming and promoting the Kingdom of God and Christ. Rightly dividing in Greek is orthotomeō which means to make straight and smooth, to handle aright, to teach the truth directly and correctly; – it occurs only once in the New Testament. To explain the differences between law and grace, between work and gift, between reward and punishment, between heaven and hell, between this life and the life to come, between things below and things above, between the worldly and the spiritual, between the eternal life and eternal punishment, etc. is rightly dividing the Word of truth. Among those who labored in the Word and doctrines that I admire most are G. Campbell Morgan, J. C. Ryle, John Bunyan, Martin Luther, etc.
(19.) Glorify the Word.
Act 13:48 ,“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
Note: Glorify in Greek is doxazō which means to praise, extol, magnify, celebrate, honor, do honor to, hold in honor, make glorious, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor, render it excellent or illustrious; – it occurs 62 times in the New Testament. There is nothing like the Holy Bible because it is the Word of God. There is nothing like the Word of God because it is truth, nothing but the truth, trustworthy to accept and believe. To glorify the Word of the Lord is to glorify God. Those who glorify the Word of God do not commit idolatry (bibliolatry). To glorify the Word of God you cannot glorify the words of men. Those who glorify the words of men are guilty of idolatry. The church of Jesus Christ must obey the Word of God.
Ezr 7:6-12 , “ This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. Now this is the copy of the decree which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, learned in the words of the commandments of the LORD and His statutes to Israel: “Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace. And now ”
Note: Ezra in Hebrew is Ezra’ which means Ezra = “help” , he was a co-worker with Nehemiah; – which occurs 22 times in the Old Testament. Ezra was a most remarkable learned man, gifted, a scribe and priest, learned in the Words of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel. Ezra was a model student of the Word of God. He who studies the Bible must set his heart. Set in Hebrew is kuwn which means to prepare; to make ready; to be securely determined; to apply one’s mind to do something; to direct; – which occurs 237 times in the Old Testament. Heart in Hebrew is lebab which means mind; soul; the seat of senses, affections, and emotions of the mind; the mode of thinking and acting; the seat of will and purpose; intellect and wisdom; – which occurs 250 times in the Old Testament. Study in Hebrew is darash which means to search; seek with care; enquire; investigate; to apply oneself; – which occurs 167 times in the Old Testament. Practice in Hebrew is `asah which means to do; perform; execute; keep; maintain; accomplish; bring about; put in order; follow; fulfill; work about; – which occurs 2,642 times in the Old Testament. Ezra set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it because he wanted to teach God’s statutes and ordinances in Israel.
2Ti 3:14-17 , “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Sacred Writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
Note: Timothy was blessed to have known the Sacred Writings from childhood. I am grateful to have studied the Bible from childhood. Convince in Greek is pistoō which means to be assured of; to be firmly persuaded of; – which occurs 1 time in the New Testament. Christians are convinced the Word of God is true, and Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Sacred in Greek is hieros which means Sacred Scriptures because inspired by God; holy; pertaining to God; consecrated to God; worthy of veneration; deserving respect; – which occurs 74 times in the New Testament. Writing in Greek is gramma which means Scriptures; a document or record; that which has been written; the sacred writings of the Old Testament; – which occurs 13 times in the New Testament. The Sacred Writings are able to give us the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Scripture in Greek is graphē which means the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents ; a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture ; Holy Writ; – which occurs 51 times in the New Testament. Inspire in Greek is theopneustos which means to be given inspiration by God; divinely breathed in; to influence by divine inspiration; to communicate supernaturally; to bring about; – which occurs 2 times in the New Testament. Luk 24:27 , “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” From Moses to all the prophets, they speak concerning Jesus Christ. Profitable in Greek is ōphelimos which means helpful or serviceable; advantageous; beneficial; – which occurs 4 times in the New Testament. A Chinese philosopher said, It is profitable to open a book. Although I had studied the world’s great masterpieces, I can assure you there is nothing more profitable or beneficial than the study of the Holy Bible. All the more a servant of Christ must master the Word of God in order to be adequate, and equipped for every good work.
Jhn 5:39 , “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me .”
Note: Search in Greek is eraunaō which means to examine into; to seek; to investigate; to look into carefully; – which occurs 7 times in the New Testament. Testify in Greek is martyreō which means to bear witness; bear record; to give honest testimony; attest; – which occurs 96 times in the New Testament. The Scriptures testify about Jesus Christ. Everything we know about Jesus Christ we learn from the Scriptures.
Years ago when I was young, an American professor advised me: Study the Gospel of John 100 times. Study the Book of Romans 100 times. Now I am old, it was a good advice. Here is a plan for your self-study of the Bible. You begin by reading carefully the Gospel of John, do it consecutively, do not skip chapter. Read every verse, pay attention to every word. If you study the Gospel of John carefully, you will have the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the central message of the Holy Bible. Then read the Book of Romans the same way you read the Gospel of John. If you study the Book of Romans, you will understand the Christian faith. When you finish the Book of Romans, then start with the Gospel of Matthew and finish the whole New Testament. Afterwards you begin with Genesis and finish the whole Old Testament. Since the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament, it is profitable that you focus more on the New Testament. You do not need to use commentary. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you and lead you into all truth. If you are acquainted with the Scriptures, probably you will find many commentaries are wrong with private interpretations. Of course you may need a good dictionary to find the meanings of a word or the words you do not know. You can study the Bible, book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. You can also study the Bible by topics, such as atonement, baptism, confession, faith, forgiveness, glorification, grace, judgment, justification, reconciliation, redemption, regeneration, repentance, salvation, sanctification, etc. To do topic or word study, you need a concordance. The best concordance is Strong’s Concordance, it is provided free on line on the Internet.
Strong’s Concordance with
Hebrew and Greek Lexicon http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html
As regards the Will of God which is supreme in every Christian life. It is most important to understand the Will of God encompasses the General Will for all Christians and the Special Will for specific person in Christ.
To know the General Will of God is easy, everything that the Word of God requires all Christians to do belongs to the General Will of God. For example,
1Th 4:3-4, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.”
This is the General Will of God, no Christian is exempt. Members of black churches often cover up and exempt their pastor or preacher from greed or sexual immorality. A preacher is not allowed to commit adultery no matter who he is. There was a famous black preacher of false gospel and he was certified by FBI as an immoral person. The black preacher although was married to a black woman also had white women sexual partners. One white female Christian told me some White churches also cover up sexual immorality of their pastors.
Rom 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Do not be conformed to this world is the General Will of God for all Christians of all generations. To prove what the will of God is for specific believer is not easy. I do not know what the Special Will of God for you. You have to find out by the help of the Holy Spirit.
May I tell you Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, all prophets, etc., in the Old Testament each had God’s Special Will for their lives. In the New Testament, Mary, John the Baptist, Apostle Paul, Apostle Peter, Apostle John, Stephen, etc., also had God’s Special Will for their lives. People outside the Holy Bible, I believe Martin Luther was the greatest man ever lived in history, he had God’s Special Will for his life. My dear friend, Dr. Arthur Mouw, the great missionary to Borneo also had God’s Special Will for his life. I can certify that Dr. Mouw did not have US$10 million in his will. He was not rich at all.
A person who has God’s Special Will for his life is not to enjoy power and wealth in this world. On the contrary, I had never met a person who had God’s special will in his life at the same time enjoying fame and fortune.
VI. CALL UPON THE LORD
People of the world, especially the wicked or the children of darkness do not know that there are so many divine promises to help the righteous. The promises of God are many, His salvation is abundant. The testimonies of God’s deliverance are numerous.
Psa 50:15, “Call upon Me on the day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
This is a precious promise of our Heavenly Father. We Christians may call upon the Lord on the day of trouble. The Lord promises to rescue us, and we will honor Him. I have called upon my Heavenly Father, a million times for big and small troubles. I can testify my heavenly Father rescued me and I honor Him a million times. Just think about being drown and eaten by a crocodile. Now I am an old man, I still call upon the Lord day and night.
Psa 9:9, “The LORD will also be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”
Psa 37:39, “But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in time of trouble.”
Psa 32:7, “You are my hiding place; You keep me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah”
Psa 46:1, “For the music director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to Alamoth. A Song.
God is our refuge and strength,
A very ready help in trouble.”
Psa 86:7, “On the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me.”
Christians can call upon the Lord on the day of trouble, for the Lord will answer them.
Psa 91:15, “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.”
Psa 107:6, “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.”
Psa 107:13, “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.”
Psa 107:19, “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
He saved them from their distresses.”
Psa 107:28, “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.”
Psa 120:1, “A Song of Ascents.
I cried to the LORD in my trouble,
And He answered me.”
Psa 143:11, “For the sake of Your name, LORD, revive me.
In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.”
Pro 3:25, “Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes.”
Years ago, when I was going to preach the Gospel to another town, my brother Jimmie accompanied me. In the midst of my preaching, Jimmie suddenly fell ill. This Word of God assured me, I was not afraid of sudden danger; we were able to go home safely.
Pro 11:8, “The righteous is rescued from trouble,
But the wicked takes his place.”
Pro 12:13, “An evil person is ensnared by the offense of his lips,
But the righteous will escape from trouble.”
Pro 12:21, “No harm happens to the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.’
Pro 15:6, “Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,
But trouble is in the income of the wicked.”
Rom 8:35, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”
Christians pray that nothing will separate us from the love of Christ. Not even tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword. The wonder of all wonders is the fact that even tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness (cold), or danger, or sword can separate us from the love of Christ.
VII.THE BLESSED HOPE
Tit 2:13, “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.”
Hope in Greek is elpis which means expectation of good; in the Christian sense joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation (Strong’s Concordance); expectation with pleasure and confidence; the thing on which the hope depends; something would happen and true; – which occurs 54 times in the New Testament. Truth is offensive. It is not nice to tell the truth to executives of Washington, Wall Street, and Hollywood that they are without God and without hope in this world. It is not nice but true to tell the military-industrial-security complex though they have power and wealth, they are without God and without hope in this world.
Christians are different from all people in the world. Jesus Christ is our great God and Savior, and we are looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of Christ Jesus.
Psa 146:5, “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.”
1Pe 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
God has given His children not only the blessed hope, but a living hope. It means Christians have hope while we are living in this miserable world.
Isa 40:30-31, “Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.”
It is wonderful that the Lord will give new strength to His children; they will mount up with wings like eagles.
Jer 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Every Christians has a future and a hope. Our future is in the Kingdom of Heaven. Our hope is the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Col 1:27, “to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
The saints of God not only have the blessed hope, the living hope, and the hope of glory. The world does not know what glory it will be when the saints reign with Jesus Christ for eternity.
Rom 15:13, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The saints (children of God) are very different from the people of the world. God is the source of our hope. For the people of the world, their source is military power and money which will pass away. Christians will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit fills Christians with joy and peace, not trouble and tragedy.
Job 11:16-18, “For you would forget your trouble;
Like waters that have passed by, you would remember it. Your life would be brighter than
noonday; darkness would be like the morning.
“Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would look around and rest securely.”
Children of God would forget their trouble. Even death there is hope. The saints of God would rest securely at the Paradise of God till the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. When I was an ignorant boy, I was afraid of being asleep that I did not hear the trumpet of God when Jesus comes. Well, be assured every Christian who has the Holy Spirit in him/her will hear the trumpet of God whether you sleep or not.
IN CONCLUSION
No matter who you are, your power and wealth cannot protect you from trouble and tragedy in this life and distress in this world. All your power and wealth are like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence.
But the Gospel has good news for you. Jesus Christ is the Rock. If you build your life on the Rock, there is nothing to fear or worry. In God’s plan, Christians have a blessed hope and a glorious future.
Mat 7:24-29, “Therefore, everyone who hears these Words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these Words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.” When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was
teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”
William Shakespeare said, “The miserable have no other medicine but only hope.” But a false hope is worse than poison. In Jesus Christ, all you miserable come and you will be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Stay positive and work hard are not enough. You need the Savior who is able to save to the end, to save you from the wrath to come, and to bring all things together in Christ, things in the Heavens and things on earth. (Eph 1:10)
2Ti 4:18, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil; every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His Heavenly Kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
This is the blessed hope even world leaders and politicians do not have it.
You can have assurance that the Lord will rescue you from every evil, trouble and tragedy, every evil deed; if you only you repent of your sins and believe in the Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your Lord and Savior.
You can do it now, for now is the day of salvation.
Willie Wong Thought
Willie Wong
August 15, 2025
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