The latest catastrophe to capture our nation's attention has happened in my own back yard. A bridge where interstate 35 crosses the Mississippi river in Minneapolis collapsed last week sending dozens of vehicles and their drivers into the water amidst a wreckage of concrete and steel. As of today, one week later, the count of those killed stands at six with an estimate as low as eight for those missing.
Events such as this raise the age old questions surrounding the problem of evil. There is only one rational position that provides any sense to human suffering
and that is that there is some kind of purpose in it.
While there may be those who for academic or philosophical reasons deny purpose in the universe and therefore in suffering, when tragedy strikes everyone seeks to know what the purpose is. The universal question in such times is "Why?" The question "Why?" asks for a reason but not for the immediate physical causes (whether of faulty engineering or neglect of maintenance) but for the ultimate cosmic reason - "Why could God allow this?"
For those who believe Bible this question has been addressed since ancient times. The prophet Amos, speaking to the northern kingdom of Israel says, "When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD done it?" (3:6). The particular disasters in Amos' mind where no doubt war, drought, famine, and plague. Why these? Because they were covenant curses - disasters promised by God if Israel broke their covenant with Him. But the ultimate reason is not that these things are natural and nature happens - get over it. No. These things have been brought upon us by God for a reason. What reason?
Jesus Himself addressed this issue:
"Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them -- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Luke 13:1-5.
Jesus uses these tragedies to alert His disciples to a more ultimate death - the coming Day of Judgment - and the more pressing question of their souls - have they repented? Have they reckoned with the fact that they are all sinners whose lives are a constant offense to an infinitely holy God; and unless they turn away from their sin and embrace the salvation He is offering to them they too will perish?
Wars, droughts, famines, and plagues; atrocities committed by dictators; collapsing towers and bridges are small pictures of that coming judgment when heaven and earth will give way at God's presence and mankind will stand before the Judge of all the earth.
This bridge's collapse, as horrible a scene as it is, is meant to rouse the nation to consider the fragility of life and this present world. Let us pray that people would be so moved to seek the Lord while He may be found.
