Following the recent tsunami in South Asia you might find these helpful...

[ Optional Introduction

Ask "What is secure, permanent, stable? "

There is nothing stable in the world; uproar's your only music. John Keats 1795-1821, British Poet

It would be illogical to assume that all conditions remain stable. -- Spock, "The Enterprise" Incident," stardate 5027.3

Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity. -- Socrates

The Universe is populated by stable things. -- Richard Dawkins

Who is ever secure? Every one of us searches for security. We seek it from our family, from our friends, from our pets, from strangers and from "God." Once in a while we experience it, only to discover that it was merely an illusion. And yet we never learn that security is an impossibility. For we are only human beings. -- Chen-It Ong ]

..................................................................

There are a number of points I would like to make, briefly.

1) It reminds us, especially in the Western materialistic world, that little is secure, permanent. Not the earth, for the tidal wave was caused by the movement of plates on the earth's surface. Not life, for 150,000 lives were taken in a very short time. The force of the wave reminds us of our lack of power and helplessness. This was apparent in the testimonies of many who survived.

2) The disruption in the surface of the earth is a picture and a symptom of the friction and disruption that there is in the earth due to the sin of humankind ( see Romans 8:20 ). An illustration of this sin is the way that 30,00 people die every day due to world poverty, whilst rich nations are not doing enough to correct this, see http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/home.html. Not until Jesus returns and establishes a new heaven and a new earth will things be as God intended them to be.

3) God is secure and permanent. We can trust in Him. The way in which any of us could die suddenly challenges us to consider our relationship with God.

4) God came to earth as a man, Jesus. He experienced what it means to be human. To love, grieve, suffer, and die. He can, therefore love, sympathize with and help those who grieve, suffer, and die. He also conquered sin and death and offers this to all who follow Him.

5) The church is "the body of Christ". We are called to act in Jesus' name, to help others selflessly. Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."