Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Talk Tuesday-HAITI, A Lesson in Faith

The images of death and devastation in Haiti, portrayed on news stations throughout the world, are stunning. Yet, there is something so profound and beautiful emanating from within the depths of Haiti. FAITH.

Our BGO Movie Monday clip shows an interview of a 21 year old man pinned under a slab of cement, alive after 46 hours:

CNN Reporter: "What are you saying to yourself?"
"Myself? Uh, as I'm a Christian, I say Jesus, Jesus You know my life is in Your hands."

This is Job-like faith. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Job 13:15

There are many reports by various news agencies about the faith of the Haitian people. In an article by Arthur Brice, CNN, titled Many Haitians' Religious Faith Unshaken By Earthquake (January 19th, 2010 9:18 a.m. EST), the following is observed:

"The church gates were closed Sunday. The doors shuttered. But it seems Tuesday's quake has only strengthened the religious fervor many Haitians carry in their souls.
'A lot of people who never prayed or believed--now they believe,' said Cristina bailey, a 24-year old clerk. ' "

Another CNN article, by Jessica Ravitz, Haitians Everywhere United By Faith, (January 18th, 2010 6:00 p.m. EST), notes:

"Their unshaken faith and devotion to God is the same sort that plays out in other houses of worship, in living rooms and on the torn-up streets of Haiti...."

"On the streets of Port-au-Prince, with many of their churches crumbled, people have gathered to worship and sing Catholic and Protestant hymns."

This is astounding. In the midst of the one of the worst disasters ever known to Haitians, they show the world their FAITH in Jesus Christ. They are ministering to us, teaching us and calling us to repentance.

Do we LOVE GOD? Do we TRUST in Him? Have we RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR HEARTS AS LORD and SAVIOUR? Does our LOVE for GOD depend on our circumstances? Do we have an ENDURING FAITH?

Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

In the midst of tragedy they cling to Jesus. They know that GOD is Sovereign. Many are coming to salvation in Jesus Christ through repentance. They are worshipping and singing out to the Lord in praise. They have become painfully aware of at least 2 things that David wrote:

"As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more." Psalm 103:15-16

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him..." Psalm 103:17

Why did this happen? I don't know. In the Gospel of John Chapter 9, verses 1-3, the disciples ask Jesus why the man was born blind?

"As he went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?'
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." John 9:1-3

The work of GOD is being displayed through the lives of many Haitian survivors.

Please pray for the people of Haiti. Please donate financially to the various relief efforts in progress. Please remember that we do not know the time nor the hour for our own lives. Live each day for the LORD.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." John 6:19-21

If you want to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of your life, you only have to ask Him to come into your heart. Go before Him in prayer. Acknowledge that you are a sinner. Repent, ask Him for forgiveness. Acknowledge His death on the cross, his resurrection from the dead and accept His offer of everlasting life. Then ask Him to reign in your heart. Begin to attend church, join a Bible Study and go to prayer meetings, so that you will grow in your faith.

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

1 comment:

Beloved said...

Thank you for this post. A friend shared with me yesterday that she had specifically heard a prophecy from a British or Scottish evangelist called Alistair on Haiti ... he had said about a year and a half ago that all eyes in the international community would be on Haiti. He even felt led to go into the water on a beach there and specifically pray for the nation.

He did not know the nature of what would cause them to be prominent on the international scene, but the earthquake has proven to fulfil that prophecy.

This tragedy, and my friend's comments, have reminded me that God is faithful to let His people know what He is doing so that we can be prepared. Let us listen to what He is saying when He speaks through His people ... people who are in tune with the Holy Spirit and are faithful in their ministries to the Word of God.

I have also been feeling that we are not to think that this kind of tragedy cannot happen to us ... instead of watching it on TV, we could be in the midst of an equally terrifying and tragic experience.

Let us learn and be encouraged by the faith of Haitian Christians ... that what we think we cannnot survive, we can actually survive by God's Spirit in us, sustaining.

Let us determine to hold on to our faith even if the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea (Psalm 46:2).

Let us spend the time we have NOW to strengthen ourselves in prayer and in the Word, so that in time of desperate need we will be sustained by our shored up faith, even to the point of being a tremendous encouragement to others.

And let's continue to pray for strength and hope and comfort for the people of Haiti, for God's provision for their tremendous need, and for salvation to come to millions there and even around the world because of this reminder of how fragile life is, and because of the testimonies of the power of Jesus Christ that keep rising to the surface.