Albert Kienle's Blog
Haiti: God Will Have The Last Word
Date: January 28, 2010 | Author: Albert Kienle
Haiti: God will have the last word ...
At 4:53 pm, January 12, 2010, Haiti faced its personal Armageddon, leaving in its wake a massive tomb of death, hopelessness, and loneliness.
We have seen the images.
We have heard the cries and wails from the rubble.
We have read the reports.
We have wept, prayed ... and given.
And we have asked, why Haiti, and why now?
Judgment?
Some have suggested it's the judgment of God.
Yes. God judges nations and individuals.
But why Haiti? And, why now?
Is God picking on the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, a people barely able to keep afloat?
Does God delight in annihilating this everyway poor nation?
Is not God about saving lives, not destroying them?
Haiti's sins are largely cultural and due to ignorance.
The sins of the USA and Canada are not. Ours are due to blatant disobedience and rebellion against the revealed Will and Word of God.
So, who is more worthy of judgment?
There are more believable reasons for the destructiveness of the quake.
One, Haiti's infrastructure is woefully inadequate; housing was poorly constructed. Their support systems was no match for the severity of the quake.
Two, Haiti's geography borders on the smaller Caribbean Plate, situated between the larger North American Plate and South American Plate. As the Plates shift things shake. We literally live on a broken Earth. And, sooner or later we feel its impact.
No. God is not mad at Haiti or its people. God weeps with the weeping, and will have the last word for good and not evil .... God is always about good news! God loves and has a good plan for this island nation.
This is seen in the outpouring of love-gifts, helping hands aid, and the rescued 'miracles'. Life and death, hope and grief, side by side.
The Church in Haiti, though now battered and bruised, is alive, well, and active; Christians are seen praying, caring, and restoring lives.
Signs of Hope
Despite the disaster I see signs of hope. These signs are spiritual and in turn will be translated into the physical.
I still have hanging on my wall, for a reminder, a Christmas card which simply says, 'His Name Is Jesus'. One day as I looked upon it and thought of Haiti, it felt as if God was saying, 'His Name is over Haiti'. So that is how I've been praying. His name over Haiti is peace, His name is strength, His name is comfort, His name is hope, blessing, protection, and so on. Whatever is needed His name is that and fills it!
Another comforting word is John 6:19-20: "They saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid."
Imagine the disciples having the same fears and feelings as the Haitians as the storm increases, the ground beneath them shifts and shakes, and around them is nothing but uncertainty.
Then Jesus comes, walking on the very thing that is frightening and threatening them. He speaks, identifying Himself, and gives comfort and hope.
I believe time and again Jesus has identified Himself in and to Haiti, having the last word. Upon the sands and rocks of destruction you'll find His footprints and fingerprints. In the shadows of death you'll find Jesus loving people, giving them hope to go on. Unimaginable rescues are His hands at work - - 133 of them, all a living witness encircling the globe that the Unseen has been seen!
Romans 8:10 is a powerful word to the Haitian church, "But if Christ lives in you, the Spirit is life for you ..." The opportunity exists in these disastrous times to receive and give life to the despairing. God is not in the death-dealing business but in the life-giving business!
On every page of the Letter to the Philippians are images of another church, the Haitian church. Chapter 2, v. 1 (TEV) is an example: "Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you. You have fellowship with the Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for one another."
We often don't think of this but two earthquakes attended the Passion of Christ. One surrounded the crucifixion, the other the resurrection. (Mt. 27:50-54; 28:1-4)
I wonder what seismic magnitude those earthquakes registered at! The human reaction were typical of Haitians: fear, bewilderment, confusion, uncertainty, panic, terror. But out of it all came Jesus, Victor over death, hell, and the grave. So shall it be now!
The Apostle Paul had an unshakable conviction in the goodness of God. Not the jingle goodness. But the goodness that opens His full storehouse to us, that strengthens and sustains us in difficult times, that reaches way down to lift and heal us, that shines His brightness, the glory of His presence, deep within our souls, giving songs in the night and unspeakable, everlasting joy throughout the day. That's goodness!
"We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him ... Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below - there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. 8:28, 35, 37-39)
The glory of the living God will break through the darkness of Haiti's tomb, filling the earth with beauty once again.
This is God's word concerning Haiti, presenting the final word.
Jesus, Your victory over death comforts our hearts and fills us with hope.
