WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 From their perception, France is a Christian nation we know much better. 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:14.099 ! Christianity is viewed so often as a political ideology by those in the East. 00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:19.019 ! And it's important for us to stop and to consider tragedies. 00:00:19.620 --> 00:00:21.679 So why did we not do it last Sunday? 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:27.660 When do we allow current events to interrupt our exposition of the Scripture? 00:00:27.660 --> 00:00:32.399 Because, to be quite frank, we could do that on any given Sunday. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:39.519 I could sit around during the week and just pay attention to what's being spoken about in social media. 00:00:39.519 --> 00:00:41.100 And pay attention to the current events. 00:00:41.179 --> 00:00:48.700 And there would always be something that would come in and would interrupt working through the Scripture. 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:55.820 It seems to me that we would tend to address these things in the same way again and again and again, 00:00:55.820 --> 00:00:57.840 as we'll do this morning. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:05.780 Just to give you some idea of this, and I'm not belittling the tragedy that happened in France by any stretch of the imagination, 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:09.519 but just to give you an idea of terrorism. 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:12.299 What's happened this year? 00:01:12.960 --> 00:01:15.439 Terrorist attacks just this year. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:18.700 Interestingly, you can access the Global Terrorism Database. 00:01:18.700 --> 00:01:20.900 Oh, the power of the Internet. 00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:26.820 And find that in January 3rd through January 7th of this year, 00:01:27.240 --> 00:01:32.240 more than 2,000 Nigerians were killed by Boko Haram militants. 00:01:33.219 --> 00:01:39.820 January 25th, more than 67 in the Philippines were killed by Islamic freedom fighters. 00:01:40.760 --> 00:01:45.100 January 30th, another 60 in Pakistan by the Taliban. 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:54.060 The total just in January was more than 2,355 people worldwide killed by terrorists. 00:01:55.199 --> 00:01:56.399 I've got a whole list of them here. 00:01:56.479 --> 00:01:57.500 I'll give you a couple of other examples. 00:01:57.619 --> 00:01:59.119 These are the big numbered ones. 00:01:59.640 --> 00:02:02.519 February 4th, more than 91 in Cameroon. 00:02:02.579 --> 00:02:05.219 These are all Islamic terrorist groups. 00:02:05.919 --> 00:02:08.259 March 20th, 137 in Yemen. 00:02:09.019 --> 00:02:13.019 April 1st, more than 147 in Kenya. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:16.840 June 25th, 146 in Syria. 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:20.800 June 26th, 70 in Somalia. 00:02:21.460 --> 00:02:24.580 July 1st, 145 in Nigeria. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.100 July 17th, 180 in Iraq. 00:02:28.700 --> 00:02:31.140 September 20th, 145 in Nigeria. 00:02:31.879 --> 00:02:35.080 October 10th, 102 in Turkey. 00:02:35.700 --> 00:02:39.620 October 31st, 224 in Egypt. 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:43.000 And I am skipping over even months. 00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:47.620 These are the big numbers, the ones that stand out as you scroll down the list. 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:51.439 Since the attack on November 13th. 00:02:51.560 --> 00:03:01.700 So beginning that next Saturday, November 14th, up until yesterday, an additional 102 people have died from terrorist attacks. 00:03:01.699 --> 00:03:07.060 So, what causes us to stop? 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:13.079 What bears enough weight to cause us to stop? 00:03:14.339 --> 00:03:20.500 And I think this Sunday is particularly valuable to do so because this particular attack has really stuck. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:23.959 Maybe that's because it's gotten so much media coverage. 00:03:23.960 --> 00:03:28.920 It's probably gotten so much media coverage because France has been an ally of ours. 00:03:29.040 --> 00:03:32.800 Because they're seen as a Western country. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:42.480 Because it was an attack, at very least, on the political ideology that Muslims, radical Muslims, attach to Christianity. 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:45.040 Maybe all these reasons are why. 00:03:45.100 --> 00:03:46.219 I don't really know why. 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:49.219 But it certainly stuck in our consciousness, hasn't it? 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:52.060 We stopped and we paid attention. 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:54.740 It was on every media outlet. 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:55.719 It was difficult to miss. 00:03:55.800 --> 00:04:02.539 While you may have missed most or all of the ones that I just mentioned, you would have had to go look for those statistics. 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:06.099 So, here we have this one. 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:12.439 And I think it's important and valuable for us to consider it together. 00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:18.899 Now, just as a brief side note, the Internet is a pretty amazing tool, isn't it? 00:04:18.899 --> 00:04:22.639 And the Internet has given all of us a voice. 00:04:22.979 --> 00:04:30.299 What an amazing thing that we can put out there on the World Wide Web, what we think about a particular issue. 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:37.060 But it's also to our detriment that it's given us all a voice, isn't it? 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:44.939 I read a Gospel Coalition article this week that said that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not everyone is entitled to their own facts. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:49.660 And things fly around on social media so very quickly. 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:52.459 If you're not on social media, good for you. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:56.139 It can be so distracting. 00:04:57.439 --> 00:04:59.060 Beloved, we live in a republic. 00:04:59.060 --> 00:05:04.600 And let me just say, the place to have political debate is not on Facebook. 00:05:05.540 --> 00:05:10.180 Have you ever seen a political debate that was beneficial to anybody on Facebook? 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:11.899 I haven't. 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:14.920 Maybe you're more active than I am in these places. 00:05:15.259 --> 00:05:16.740 It's not the place to post the article. 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:18.060 It's not the place to have the debate. 00:05:18.139 --> 00:05:20.139 It never ends well. 00:05:21.639 --> 00:05:24.819 If you want to be an activist, please do so. 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:26.779 Call your senator. 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:28.879 Call your congressman. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:30.339 There's a way to do that in a republic. 00:05:31.259 --> 00:05:37.259 Unless you happen to know a congressman so well that he follows your Facebook feed and keeps up with your opinion on a matter. 00:05:38.420 --> 00:05:39.259 Just don't. 00:05:40.019 --> 00:05:41.439 Use it for what it's made for. 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:45.019 Post pictures of your kids or your dog or your vacation. 00:05:46.860 --> 00:05:51.800 Let's go there and share the happy parts of our lives together. 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:58.920 I just would strongly suggest to you that you not air your opinions in these matters in this way. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:05:59.600 Have an opinion. 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:01.600 Have an informed opinion. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:04.360 But don't get it out there in that way. 00:06:04.980 --> 00:06:11.220 I want to ask two questions together as we consider the terrorist attack in Paris. 00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:12.480 Number one. 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:12.520 Number one. 00:06:12.680 --> 00:06:16.260 Where is God in such tragedies? 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:20.240 Or maybe more rightly, I should ask the question, so we'll ask it this way. 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:23.720 How is God in such tragedies? 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:24.980 So number one. 00:06:25.060 --> 00:06:27.320 How is God in such tragedies? 00:06:27.500 --> 00:06:28.140 And number two. 00:06:29.260 --> 00:06:35.800 What is God working to accomplish by allowing such things to happen? 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:37.500 And you hear me correctly. 00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:42.400 What is God working to accomplish by allowing these things to happen? 00:06:43.340 --> 00:06:46.120 God himself has given us answers to these questions in his holy writ. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:51.780 And I will work to show you those answers for your good and for his glory this morning. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:57.500 The quote on the front of your bulletin by my favorite person to quote, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. 00:06:58.500 --> 00:06:59.199 He said, 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:04.120 Oh, to have the word of Christ always dwelling inside of us. 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:06.420 In the memory never forgotten. 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:09.340 In the heart always loved. 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:12.879 In the understanding really grasped. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:18.879 With all the powers and passions of the mind fully submitted to its control. 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:24.600 We have this access to the absolute authority. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:25.959 The truth. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:28.379 And we can find the answers to these questions together. 00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:30.579 I hope to do so today. 00:07:31.139 --> 00:07:31.980 At least in brief. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:37.800 So firstly, how is God in the terror attacks in Paris? 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:39.000 Here's my answer. 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:44.300 God is providential in the terror attacks in Paris. 00:07:45.020 --> 00:07:46.460 God is providential. 00:07:46.700 --> 00:07:48.439 He reigns over. 00:07:49.080 --> 00:07:52.640 He is in control as he always is in these times. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:54.800 There is nothing that escapes his attention. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:57.540 There is nothing outside of his grasp. 00:07:57.540 --> 00:08:03.100 He directs all things for the fulfillment of his purposes. 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:06.460 Nothing is outside of his purview. 00:08:07.340 --> 00:08:08.400 This is our God. 00:08:09.860 --> 00:08:12.900 God sustains all things. 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:15.240 I'll invite you to try to keep up with me here. 00:08:15.580 --> 00:08:21.840 Hebrews 1.3 states that Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:27.439 God orders all things in creation. 00:08:28.219 --> 00:08:30.519 Job 37.6-13. 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:35.199 For to the snow, he says, fall on the earth. 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:39.480 Likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:44.159 He seals up the hand of every man that all men whom he made may know it. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:48.139 Then the beasts go into their lairs and remain in their dens. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:53.220 From its chamber comes the whirlwind and cold from the scattering winds. 00:08:53.220 --> 00:08:59.920 By the breath of God, ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:03.360 He loads the thick cloud with moisture. 00:09:03.820 --> 00:09:06.200 The clouds scatter his lightning. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:13.480 They turn around and around by his guidance to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. 00:09:13.920 --> 00:09:20.460 Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen. 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:25.400 And this is not a misunderstanding on the part of the writer. 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:28.320 This is God's inspired word. 00:09:28.680 --> 00:09:36.620 We understand the science behind all of these things, but God still speaks these things and they happen. 00:09:37.680 --> 00:09:46.200 Psalm 148.8 says, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfill his word. 00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:49.980 God orders all things creation. 00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:52.180 He orders the affairs of nations. 00:09:52.920 --> 00:09:54.280 Psalm 22.28. 00:09:54.420 --> 00:10:00.440 For kingship belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. 00:10:01.160 --> 00:10:02.240 Proverbs 21.1. 00:10:03.040 --> 00:10:08.060 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:12.520 He turns it wherever he will. 00:10:13.420 --> 00:10:14.980 Acts 17.26. 00:10:14.980 --> 00:10:22.480 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:29.740 having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:31.779 God has made all of the nations. 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:35.139 God has decided for how long they will persist. 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:40.279 God has decided where the boundaries of those nations exist. 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:43.980 He orders the affairs of the nations. 00:10:43.980 --> 00:10:47.460 He orders the activity of mankind. 00:10:48.680 --> 00:10:49.680 Jeremiah 10.23. 00:10:49.820 --> 00:10:54.960 Jeremiah says, I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, 00:10:55.320 --> 00:11:00.240 that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:02.100 Proverbs 16.9. 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:08.639 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:16.000 Beloved, this is what the Scripture says about God's providence in this world. 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:26.299 God is providential in the terror attacks in Paris and every other tragedy that we will walk through in this life. 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:37.839 Now, some would say of this means that God is providentially in control, that he permitted or that he allowed it to happen. 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:45.919 But I say to you, and I believe that the Scripture says that he ordained it to happen. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:49.819 It's a difficult thing to say. 00:11:50.819 --> 00:11:53.719 That God ordained it to happen. 00:11:53.720 --> 00:12:01.320 And the immediate question that's begged, I hope your mind went there because it means that your mind is rational and it functions. 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:04.740 Doesn't this make God the source of evil? 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:08.900 God ordains it to come to pass, then isn't he the very source of it? 00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:10.780 Doesn't it originate with him? 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:13.140 Is this even possible? 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:18.879 What we know of the character of God, can he ordain evil to come to pass? 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:21.060 Things might come to your mind. 00:12:21.140 --> 00:12:22.140 1 John 1.5. 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:33.080 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:34.840 That God is perfect. 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:35.840 He is holy. 00:12:36.199 --> 00:12:37.059 He is righteous. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:40.159 Is it possible that God can sin? 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:46.480 There's a resounding no of an answer to that, but it can be very troubling to our minds. 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:51.120 And I can only answer the question for you in this way. 00:12:52.139 --> 00:13:07.840 But God ordaining sin does not make him the source of it, but rather God directs, gives direction to the evil of men in order to accomplish his purposes. 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:10.199 There's stories of this. 00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:13.659 Many stories of Joseph being sold into slavery. 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:17.559 And Joseph at the end of all of that realizes that all the good that God brought about through his life, 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:22.659 he says to his brothers, what you intended for evil, God meant for good. 00:13:23.819 --> 00:13:27.299 Let's give another river analogy a try. 00:13:27.439 --> 00:13:29.299 I think the last one I tried really bombed. 00:13:31.099 --> 00:13:34.259 The evil of man, it belongs to us. 00:13:34.319 --> 00:13:38.359 The evil of man is a flowing river, and it is on the move. 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:46.639 God's providence sets banks on the borders of that river, directs its flow. 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:50.960 He himself is not the source of the river, but he orders it. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:56.259 He channels it so that the river arrives at its appointed destination, 00:13:56.259 --> 00:14:00.580 so that it accomplishes what God set out for it to accomplish. 00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:03.320 And it's challenging to my mind. 00:14:03.400 --> 00:14:04.820 I'd just be entirely honest to you. 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:07.080 I wish that I could figure all things out in the Scripture, 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.740 all of these apparent paradoxes that appear in the Scripture. 00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:12.820 I want to wrestle them out to their very, very end. 00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:19.320 Every reasonable explanation that I've ever read concerning these types of things 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:22.080 still seems to come up a bit short for me. 00:14:22.660 --> 00:14:26.460 How is it possible that God ordains the evil, but he's not the source of the evil? 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:31.660 So, it's a difficult thing to try to wrap our minds around. 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:35.379 The alternatives are heretical. 00:14:35.780 --> 00:14:39.100 We can't think differently about who God is in this world, 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:41.620 and so we must wrestle with these types of things. 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:47.360 It is terrifying to me to think that 130 people could be killed 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:50.480 over a very short period of time on Friday evening, 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:55.759 and that God had no part in it, that he was off someplace else, 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:57.259 that he wasn't paying attention, 00:14:57.399 --> 00:15:01.980 that he wasn't there in the midst of what was happening in that place. 00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:05.240 That caused me to shudder to think that that could even be possible 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:07.559 if we were to ignore the God of Scripture. 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:11.980 It's comforting to me to know that he ordained it. 00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:15.100 I hope it's comforting to you to go, 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:17.860 Oh, this tragedy, this thing that we weep over, right? 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:20.939 We mourn with those who mourn. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:25.279 It's something that God intended to have happen. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:29.379 The next question that may come to your mind, 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:33.340 if God intends these things to happen, if he ordains them to happen, 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:37.639 is man still responsible for his actions? 00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:42.639 Are these ISIS terrorists responsible for their actions? 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:47.460 Kind of ironically, they're trying to be responsible for their actions. 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:48.879 They've come right out and said, 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:51.500 we did this because it is jihad, 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:53.659 because of our religious ideologies. 00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:54.500 We did this. 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:58.639 Our president seems to be trying to take that responsibility away from them. 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:00.500 They certainly are responsible. 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:04.220 God will not take that responsibility from them. 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:08.080 They're fully responsible and accountable for their sin. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:14.520 God's providence does not absolve man of his responsibility. 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:17.540 Let me show you an example of this in the Scripture. 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:21.480 Turn to the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, chapter 1. 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:26.300 I'll give you a second to find it while I drink some water. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:41.259 Habakkuk, chapter 1. 00:16:41.339 --> 00:16:45.819 This is a very fitting text as we consider the tragedy in France. 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:52.180 Because the prophet Habakkuk is predicting what's going to come to pass, 00:16:52.240 --> 00:17:01.140 and that is that Israel is going to be judged by a people, a warring people, the Chaldeans. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:05.320 Let's see what God has to say, beginning in verse 5. 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:07.500 Habakkuk, chapter 1, verse 5. 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:09.740 I'll read down through verse 11. 00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:12.380 This is God speaking. 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:15.140 Look among the nations and see. 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:17.880 Wonder and be astounded. 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:23.740 For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:25.859 This is God saying, I am doing a work. 00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:31.079 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:33.920 that bitter and hasty nation 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:38.960 who march through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:41.460 They are dreaded and fearsome. 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:44.980 Their justice and dignity go forth from themselves, 00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:47.059 meaning it's not existent in them. 00:17:48.120 --> 00:17:50.019 Their horses are swifter than leopards, 00:17:50.120 --> 00:17:51.960 more fierce than the evening wolves. 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:54.380 Their horsemen press proudly on. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.640 The horsemen come from afar. 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:59.700 They fly like an eagle, swift to devour. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.799 They all come for violence, 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:04.059 all their faces forward. 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:05.360 That is, set on that violence. 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:07.980 They gather captives like sand. 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:10.240 At kings they scoff, 00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:12.059 and at rulers they laugh. 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:14.140 They laugh at every fortress, 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:16.700 for they pile up earth and take it. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:20.980 They built these big earth ramps to get into fortresses. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:26.539 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on. 00:18:26.620 --> 00:18:29.000 Now, listen to this little phrase that comes next. 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:30.980 Guilty men, 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:36.160 whose own might is their God. 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:38.340 You see that God says, 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:40.680 I'm raising up the Chaldeans, right? 00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:44.840 I'm giving them this power that they have, 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:47.680 and that might is their God, 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.660 and they are guilty of this activity. 00:18:49.820 --> 00:18:51.100 Yet, He ordains, 00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:54.240 He orchestrates them to accomplish His purpose. 00:18:54.320 --> 00:18:54.980 In this case, 00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:56.880 that's the judgment of Israel. 00:18:57.820 --> 00:18:59.779 You see it in that text there. 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:02.440 Now, as I mentioned previously, 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:05.379 the only alternatives to this perspective 00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:07.779 has been deemed heretical, 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:10.819 and we would do well to keep ourselves 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:12.660 from thinking in these ways 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:15.740 or functioning with these kinds of thoughts 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:16.720 fueling us. 00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.399 There's two. 00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.759 Two I just want to point out to you. 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:21.059 The first is called dualism. 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:25.559 Dualism states that there's this cosmic war 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:27.319 between good and evil, 00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:30.299 which I say to you is taking place, 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:32.579 but that we don't know the outcome of that war. 00:19:32.899 --> 00:19:33.720 That the two are battling. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.659 Who can know which will win? 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:37.619 God or Satan? 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:41.000 This is not the case, beloved. 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:43.619 God has conquered. 00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:48.259 Jesus Christ has delivered the death blow to Satan. 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:50.619 Satan's not omniscient. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.899 He's not omnipotent. 00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:53.860 He's a created being. 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:56.120 God is the creator. 00:19:56.759 --> 00:20:00.380 Satan is held on a very tight leash by our Lord. 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:03.800 Those things that he is allowed to do 00:20:03.800 --> 00:20:05.500 are permitted by God. 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:07.080 The story of Job. 00:20:08.060 --> 00:20:09.580 Job is a righteous man, 00:20:09.780 --> 00:20:11.220 and Satan wants to tempt him, 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:15.300 and he comes and he asks permission of God to do this. 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:18.660 Another example of this is found in the temptation, 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:22.420 the prediction of Peter's denial. 00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:23.580 Turn there with me. 00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:24.240 Luke 22. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.779 Beginning in verse 31, 00:20:41.060 --> 00:20:43.680 Jesus says to Peter, 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:47.100 Simon, Simon, behold, 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:51.180 Satan demanded to have you 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:54.600 that he might sift you like wheat. 00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:56.759 There's another request made here. 00:20:57.320 --> 00:20:58.880 Satan comes to God and he says, 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:00.320 give me Peter. 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:03.220 I'm going to sift him out like wheat. 00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:04.460 Verse 32, 00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:06.440 but I have prayed for you 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:08.860 that your faith may not fail. 00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:12.680 And when you have turned again, 00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:14.160 right, so he's going to deny Christ, 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.380 but he's going to turn back to Christ. 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.340 The prediction's right here. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.380 When you have turned again, 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:20.940 strengthen your brothers. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.340 Peter said to him, 00:21:22.380 --> 00:21:23.620 Lord, I'm ready to go with you 00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:25.560 both to prison and to death. 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.160 Jesus said, I tell you, 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:29.299 Peter, the rooster will not crow this day 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:31.920 until you deny three times that you know me. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:35.299 You see it found right there in that text. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.640 This is not dualism, right? 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:40.320 Jesus himself says, 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:43.659 I have prayed and you will turn back to me. 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:47.299 You will not be conquered by Satan. 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.559 Dualism is a heresy 00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:51.500 and should not be considered. 00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.259 We should not say, 00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:55.000 now, was Satan in some way active 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:57.179 and participating in these attacks? 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.539 I couldn't say. 00:21:58.659 --> 00:21:59.220 I don't know. 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:01.539 Again, he can't be all places at all times. 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:02.679 Maybe he was someplace else 00:22:02.679 --> 00:22:04.720 carrying out some greater atrocity. 00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:07.939 Was there some spiritual power at play 00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:09.120 in that activity? 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.860 I would say to you, 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:11.240 yes, there was. 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:14.240 But it didn't escape God. 00:22:14.600 --> 00:22:16.220 It didn't conquer him. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:18.000 God wasn't pushed back at bay 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.519 so that this thing could happen. 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:23.220 God ordained that it would. 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.580 The second one is called open theism. 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:29.460 And there are a lot of people in our day 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:31.000 that are open theists, 00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:32.340 whether they realize it or not. 00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:34.159 Open theism. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.980 Also, the heresy. 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.839 Open theism says 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:41.740 that we are entirely free agents. 00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:43.899 Basically, that we can do 00:22:43.899 --> 00:22:44.779 whatever we want to do. 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:46.439 And I agree that we have free will. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:48.359 It just depends on what you mean by free. 00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:50.579 It's a whole other conversation 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:53.859 for another time or times, perhaps. 00:22:54.539 --> 00:22:57.000 But it would say that we're totally free 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:58.939 and God doesn't know 00:22:58.939 --> 00:23:00.699 what will necessarily happen, 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:03.660 but He knows all possible outcomes 00:23:03.660 --> 00:23:06.539 and He works in response 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:08.080 to man's activity. 00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:10.019 That's open theism. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.860 That we're directing our own paths. 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.000 And it's based loosely 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.460 on some responses in the Scripture, 00:23:15.620 --> 00:23:18.279 some places that it's recorded 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:19.920 as if God changed His mind 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:21.279 in the Old Testament. 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:24.420 It's got very shifting ground 00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:25.759 to stand on biblically. 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:28.880 Most often, it's a work 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:30.940 of human logic. 00:23:31.500 --> 00:23:32.720 Trying to make sense 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:34.680 of how it is in this world 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:37.420 that God can permit 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:38.860 such things to happen. 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:40.120 And that would be to say 00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:41.780 that these men freely chose 00:23:41.780 --> 00:23:43.140 and now God steps in 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:44.000 and He responds. 00:23:44.260 --> 00:23:45.320 Oh, what can I redeem 00:23:45.320 --> 00:23:46.200 out of this situation? 00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:46.940 Look at my people 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.460 doing the wrong thing once again. 00:23:48.760 --> 00:23:49.740 How can I step in 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:51.700 to the midst of all of that? 00:23:52.540 --> 00:23:54.320 God really goes on trial 00:23:54.320 --> 00:23:56.040 at times like this. 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:59.720 But God has spoken to us 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:01.319 from His Word. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.480 And the next question 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:05.759 that seems to be begged is then, 00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:07.480 how can a good God 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:11.059 permit such things to happen? 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.420 Beloved, I would say to you 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.279 that we just have to be 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:15.759 so careful in our understanding 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:18.399 of what is good. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:21.180 The greatest and the highest good 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:22.920 that we can possibly have 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:25.400 is God Himself. 00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.740 And how He orchestrates 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.840 all of these things 00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:30.279 to that great end 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.259 is beyond me. 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:34.259 Maybe a wiser man, 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.420 but I don't think so. 00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:37.200 Paul said in Romans 11, 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:38.880 33-36, 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.440 all of the depths 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.560 of the riches 00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:42.560 and wisdom 00:24:42.560 --> 00:24:44.140 and knowledge of God. 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.180 How unsearchable 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:47.200 are His judgments 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.220 and how inscrutable 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:50.360 or unknowable, 00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.160 that's what that means, 00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:51.880 His ways. 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.539 For who has known 00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.640 the mind of the Lord 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:56.160 or who has been 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.380 His counselor 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.460 or who has given 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.120 a gift to Him 00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.299 that He might be repaid 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.120 for from Him 00:25:01.120 --> 00:25:02.360 and through Him 00:25:02.360 --> 00:25:03.420 and to Him 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.559 are all things, 00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:06.559 including tragedies, 00:25:06.840 --> 00:25:07.700 terrorist attacks, 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.840 to Him 00:25:08.840 --> 00:25:10.880 be glory forever. 00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:12.279 Amen. 00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:14.180 And Paul gets to 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:15.000 the higher purpose 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.580 of all things, 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.080 does he not? 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:18.159 The glory of God. 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.939 God is firstly 00:25:20.939 --> 00:25:23.199 and foremostly, 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.579 that may not be a word, 00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:27.539 concerned with His glory. 00:25:27.699 --> 00:25:29.839 This is what He's seeking out. 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.419 God is God-centered. 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.179 It would be horrible 00:25:32.179 --> 00:25:33.899 for us to be man-centered, 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.879 but we're not God. 00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:36.079 God is the greatest thing, 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:36.500 the Creator. 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:37.460 We're all creation 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.259 and we should all rightly 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.559 worship Him. 00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:42.099 So He's working these things 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:44.819 for that high good 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.819 in some way. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.619 that we may never comprehend 00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:49.579 on this side of glory. 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:50.960 And the problem 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.619 with both of us 00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.399 is that we don't think 00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:53.259 of good 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:54.759 in the right way. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.619 C.S. Lewis wrote 00:25:56.619 --> 00:25:57.259 in the book 00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:59.039 The Problem of Pain, 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:00.200 We want, 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.200 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.200 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.920 in fact, 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.339 not so much 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:03.740 a Father in Heaven 00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:05.359 as a Grandfather 00:26:05.359 --> 00:26:06.200 in Heaven, 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.359 a senile benevolence 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:08.720 who, 00:26:08.899 --> 00:26:09.819 as they say, 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.980 liked to see young people 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:13.200 enjoying themselves, 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.500 and whose plan 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.220 for the universe 00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:15.899 was simply 00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:16.639 that it might be 00:26:16.639 --> 00:26:17.539 truly said 00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:19.000 at the end of each day 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.299 a good time 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:21.159 was had 00:26:21.159 --> 00:26:22.180 by all. 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:24.560 This is not the God 00:26:24.560 --> 00:26:25.640 of Scripture. 00:26:26.560 --> 00:26:27.140 This God 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.320 ordains all things 00:26:28.320 --> 00:26:29.539 and works all things 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.860 and brings all things 00:26:30.860 --> 00:26:31.600 underneath 00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:34.840 His goodness to us 00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:35.620 that He would 00:26:35.620 --> 00:26:37.340 give Himself 00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:38.640 to us. 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:42.020 So secondly, 00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.720 what is God 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.900 working to accomplish 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:46.520 by allowing 00:26:46.520 --> 00:26:47.120 the terror attacks 00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.460 in Paris? 00:26:47.520 --> 00:26:48.020 His glory, 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:49.480 and I've said that already, 00:26:50.040 --> 00:26:50.560 primarily, 00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:51.480 I think that's the 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:53.100 single answer to this, 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:55.080 and there may be 00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:55.759 a subset 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.140 of other answers. 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.360 As I've said, 00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:58.900 I don't even know 00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.700 that I could wrap my mind 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.340 completely around 00:27:00.340 --> 00:27:01.000 those things. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:02.660 But He is 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:04.320 seeking His glory 00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:04.780 in this thing 00:27:04.780 --> 00:27:05.680 specifically 00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:07.480 by calling 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.300 all men 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.680 to repent. 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:12.500 By calling 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.200 all men 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.700 to repent. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.059 Let me show you 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:17.019 another text of Scripture. 00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:18.980 Luke chapter 13. 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:32.259 I love the Gospels. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.220 I love the record 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:35.159 of Jesus' 00:27:35.399 --> 00:27:36.079 conversations. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.919 I love 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:39.660 reading passages 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:40.100 of Scripture 00:27:40.100 --> 00:27:41.300 where you expect, 00:27:41.620 --> 00:27:42.820 having some 00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:44.640 theological 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.860 education 00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:46.519 of my own, 00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:47.759 you would expect 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.259 He would answer 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.019 in a particular way. 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:49.400 Like, oh, 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:49.800 I know how Jesus 00:27:49.800 --> 00:27:50.160 is going to answer 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:50.539 this one. 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.200 And then He answers 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:51.759 it in a completely 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.259 different way, 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.740 the perfect way. 00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:58.300 Luke chapter 13, 00:27:58.380 --> 00:27:58.920 verse 1. 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.320 There were some 00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:02.039 present at that 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:02.680 very time 00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.580 who told Him 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:05.160 about the Galileans. 00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:05.660 these would be 00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:07.040 Galilean Jews 00:28:07.040 --> 00:28:08.480 whose blood 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:10.140 Pilate had mingled 00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:11.860 with their sacrifices. 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.300 And what seems 00:28:13.300 --> 00:28:14.100 to have happened here, 00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:15.019 there's not a lot 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.960 of extra-biblical 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:17.940 resources that tell us 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:19.140 much about this. 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:20.580 Pilate, 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.019 the Roman governor 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:22.960 over the province, 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:24.220 was a cruel man 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:25.279 in so many ways. 00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:27.019 We have a group 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:28.140 of Galilean Jews 00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:30.040 who are making sacrifices, 00:28:30.040 --> 00:28:30.720 which means this was 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:31.759 likely at Passover 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.300 because there was 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.500 so much sacrifice 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.399 being done 00:28:34.399 --> 00:28:35.200 that the priests 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.180 couldn't keep up with it. 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:37.599 So, everyone got involved. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.379 So, they were actually 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.220 at the temple 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:40.220 in Jerusalem 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.559 making sacrifice. 00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:42.500 And what's meant 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.119 by this idea 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:44.379 that Pilate mingled 00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:45.399 their blood 00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:46.119 is that they were 00:28:46.119 --> 00:28:47.659 killed in the temple. 00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:49.220 That they were massacred 00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:49.759 in the temple. 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.799 We don't know how many, 00:28:51.399 --> 00:28:52.500 but Galilean Jews 00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.700 were murdered 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:54.559 by Pilate 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:56.079 as they were there 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.119 doing the 00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:59.119 quote-unquote 00:28:59.119 --> 00:28:59.960 good activity 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:01.440 of worship to God, 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.180 giving sacrifice, 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.180 to God. 00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:04.559 They were killed. 00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.079 And so, they 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:07.539 asked this question, 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.440 what about this thing 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:10.500 that has happened 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.240 and how does Jesus 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.220 answer? 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.919 And he answered them, 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.419 do you think 00:29:16.419 --> 00:29:18.419 that these Galileans 00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:20.180 were worse sinners 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.440 than all the other 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.359 Galileans 00:29:22.359 --> 00:29:23.700 because they suffered 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:24.980 in this way? 00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:26.839 The Jewish understanding 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:29.799 of punishment 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.599 in the world 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.519 was that they had 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.019 done something? 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:32.839 Necessarily, 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:33.759 these Galileans 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.960 must have sinned 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:36.700 if this type of a judgment 00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.500 was brought on them 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.619 in this world. 00:29:38.839 --> 00:29:39.400 They couldn't have been 00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:39.980 without guilt 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:41.460 if they were punished 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:42.099 in this way. 00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:42.720 And Jesus' response 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.359 to them is to say, 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.079 of course they were 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:44.519 with guilt. 00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.500 Just like you're 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:45.920 with guilt. 00:29:46.379 --> 00:29:46.960 We're all with 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.019 the same guilt. 00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:48.139 Pilate. 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.500 And he goes on 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:51.879 and he uses 00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:55.420 a natural disaster. 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:56.940 So, here's Pilate 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:58.119 probably by the hands 00:29:58.119 --> 00:29:58.559 of soldiers 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:00.920 murdering Galilean Jews. 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:01.980 And he says, 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.960 no, I tell you, 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.839 but unless you repent, 00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:07.019 you will all likewise 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:08.559 perish. 00:30:09.160 --> 00:30:10.640 Or those 18 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:12.539 on whom the tower 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:13.960 in Siloam fell 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:15.559 and killed them, 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.660 do you think 00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:17.579 that they were 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.660 worse offenders 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:20.400 than all the others 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.120 who lived 00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:22.360 in Jerusalem? 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.680 No. 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:25.319 I tell you, 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.660 but unless you repent, 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:30.360 you will all likewise 00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.299 perish. 00:30:32.939 --> 00:30:34.979 So, events like this 00:30:34.979 --> 00:30:35.659 that we're discussing 00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:36.279 this morning, 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.399 this terrorist attack 00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:39.119 in Paris, France. 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:40.219 With these events, 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:42.299 God makes a cry out 00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:43.259 into the world, 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.439 repent. 00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:45.759 Repent. 00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:47.000 Repent. 00:30:48.819 --> 00:30:49.919 I point out four words 00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:52.079 to you from this passage. 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:53.979 All. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.879 No one is exempt. 00:30:56.459 --> 00:30:58.059 No one is exempt 00:30:58.059 --> 00:31:00.460 from the just 00:31:00.460 --> 00:31:01.659 condemnation of God 00:31:01.659 --> 00:31:02.440 for sin. 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.879 Romans 3.10, 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:04.639 none is righteous. 00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:06.399 No, not one. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.339 3.23, 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:09.240 for all has sinned 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:10.079 and fall short 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.759 of the glory of God. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:14.099 Apart from repentance, 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:17.519 everyone is guilty. 00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.480 Equally so, 00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:21.419 those who were murdered 00:31:21.419 --> 00:31:22.619 in France 00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:23.639 and those who did 00:31:23.639 --> 00:31:24.599 the murdering 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.339 in France 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:26.220 under the just 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.220 condemnation of God 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:29.019 if they didn't repent. 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.720 And we can't be too sure 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:32.160 of those victims. 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.980 They're all. 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:34.980 No one is exempt. 00:31:35.100 --> 00:31:36.140 We're all under this 00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:37.200 condemnation 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:38.440 apart from 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:39.720 repentance. 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.519 Did you use the word 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.220 likewise? 00:31:43.120 --> 00:31:43.920 These people didn't 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:45.079 expect their end 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.559 would come 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.299 in this way 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:48.019 and neither will you, 00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.039 but it will 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:49.920 come 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:51.880 and we will 00:31:51.880 --> 00:31:52.819 perish. 00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.120 I don't think here 00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:55.679 he's talking about 00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:56.519 a physical death. 00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:57.259 He's not suggesting 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:58.879 that if you repent, 00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.500 you'll have 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.799 eternal life 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.419 here 00:32:01.419 --> 00:32:03.299 in these bodies. 00:32:03.739 --> 00:32:04.819 Not a physical death, 00:32:04.899 --> 00:32:05.619 but I think he's referring 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:06.719 to a final judgment 00:32:06.719 --> 00:32:08.319 and the eternal punishment 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:08.879 that comes 00:32:08.879 --> 00:32:09.899 beyond that. 00:32:09.979 --> 00:32:10.579 This is what he means 00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.219 by the word 00:32:11.219 --> 00:32:11.939 perish. 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:13.079 There's another place, 00:32:13.219 --> 00:32:13.959 John 3.16, 00:32:14.059 --> 00:32:15.019 for God so loved the world 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:16.799 that he gave his only Son 00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.659 that whoever believes 00:32:17.659 --> 00:32:18.079 in him 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:19.059 should not 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:20.319 perish 00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.899 but have 00:32:21.899 --> 00:32:22.839 eternal life. 00:32:23.739 --> 00:32:24.500 And this comes to us 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:26.019 through repentance. 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.259 Unless you repent, 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:30.059 that is that you turn 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:30.740 from your evil 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.700 and you turn 00:32:31.700 --> 00:32:32.440 to God 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:32.960 and the way 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.740 that this happens 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.920 is through the personal 00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.720 work of Jesus Christ. 00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.799 Faith in 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:38.279 Christ. 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:39.960 This will be 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.059 your end. 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.660 This will be 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:42.299 their 00:32:42.299 --> 00:32:43.480 end. 00:32:44.940 --> 00:32:46.440 God cries out 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:47.299 to the world, 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.220 repent. 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.920 This life is fleeting. 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.880 It is short. 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.359 Evil runs rampant. 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.079 I have promised 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:53.660 to return. 00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.220 repent. 00:32:55.800 --> 00:32:56.660 In Luke 11.32, 00:32:56.820 --> 00:32:57.220 Jesus says, 00:32:57.320 --> 00:32:57.960 the men of Nineveh 00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:58.820 will rise up 00:32:58.820 --> 00:32:59.480 at the judgment 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.480 with this generation 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.480 and condemn it. 00:33:02.100 --> 00:33:02.980 For they repented 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.820 at the preaching 00:33:03.820 --> 00:33:04.420 of Jonah 00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:05.220 and behold, 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:07.240 something greater 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:08.220 than Jonah 00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:09.180 is here. 00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:10.640 Jesus Christ 00:33:10.640 --> 00:33:12.000 calls us 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.519 to repent. 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.320 Listen to the 00:33:15.320 --> 00:33:15.700 repentance 00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:17.300 of the Ninevites. 00:33:18.800 --> 00:33:20.440 Jonah 3.5-9, 00:33:20.440 --> 00:33:20.799 and the people 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:21.259 of Nineveh 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:23.400 believed God. 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:23.720 Remember, 00:33:23.840 --> 00:33:24.360 Jonah comes 00:33:24.360 --> 00:33:24.779 and preaches 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.279 to them 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.400 and the record 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:26.779 is that they 00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:28.299 believed God. 00:33:29.080 --> 00:33:29.440 They called 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.220 for a fast 00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:31.420 and put on 00:33:31.420 --> 00:33:32.240 sackcloth. 00:33:32.320 --> 00:33:32.960 This was a common 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.759 sign of repentance 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.799 in the day. 00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:35.420 From the greatest 00:33:35.420 --> 00:33:35.920 of them 00:33:35.920 --> 00:33:37.019 to the least 00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:37.460 of them. 00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:38.559 The word 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.220 reached the king 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:39.680 of Nineveh 00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:40.500 and he arose 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.220 from his throne, 00:33:41.580 --> 00:33:42.640 removed his robe, 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:43.820 covered himself 00:33:43.820 --> 00:33:44.559 with sackcloth 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:45.700 and sat in ashes. 00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:47.080 And he issued 00:33:47.080 --> 00:33:48.039 a proclamation 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:49.220 and published 00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:50.059 through Nineveh 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.200 by the decree 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.259 of the king 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:53.080 and his nobles, 00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:54.200 let neither man 00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:54.819 nor beast, 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:55.920 herd nor flock 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:56.920 taste anything. 00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:58.319 Let them not feed 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:58.960 or drink water, 00:33:59.059 --> 00:33:59.759 but let man 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.180 and beast 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:00.640 be covered 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.319 with sackcloth 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:01.759 and let them 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:03.299 call out mightily 00:34:03.299 --> 00:34:04.200 to God. 00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.500 Let everyone, 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.319 this is this picture 00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:06.799 of repentance, 00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:09.260 turn from his evil way 00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:10.760 and from the violence 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:12.059 that is in his hands. 00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:13.340 Who knows? 00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:14.740 God may turn 00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:15.480 and relent 00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:16.480 and turn 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:17.559 from his fierce anger 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:19.460 so that we may not 00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.120 perish. 00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:20.600 And we know 00:34:20.600 --> 00:34:21.260 if we read on 00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:22.360 that he did in fact 00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:23.920 relent 00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:26.300 from his punishment 00:34:26.300 --> 00:34:27.900 to the Ninevites. 00:34:29.700 --> 00:34:30.500 So where does that 00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.039 leave us? 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:32.579 What does that leave us? 00:34:32.660 --> 00:34:33.640 God's calling out 00:34:33.640 --> 00:34:34.220 in these types 00:34:34.220 --> 00:34:34.840 of activities 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:37.019 for repentance. 00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:39.160 Well, firstly, 00:34:39.960 --> 00:34:41.320 we need to pray 00:34:41.320 --> 00:34:42.519 for repentance. 00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:44.620 Have you prayed 00:34:44.620 --> 00:34:46.100 one time 00:34:46.100 --> 00:34:47.420 since a week ago 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:47.860 Friday 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:49.320 for the repentance 00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:50.640 of the world 00:34:50.640 --> 00:34:51.660 in light 00:34:51.660 --> 00:34:52.680 of this type of thing? 00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:53.940 I would encourage 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.600 you to do so. 00:34:55.140 --> 00:34:56.760 This shock wave 00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:57.780 that has gone 00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.380 around the world. 00:34:58.519 --> 00:34:59.740 Don't let it be wasted. 00:35:00.640 --> 00:35:02.320 Life is short. 00:35:02.700 --> 00:35:03.440 It is fleeting. 00:35:03.700 --> 00:35:04.780 It is passing. 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:06.400 And those who don't 00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:07.380 repent will 00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:09.200 perish. 00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.260 This should be 00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:11.320 a very clear reminder 00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:13.200 to us of that. 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.539 A bunch of young people 00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:15.480 enjoying themselves 00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:16.380 at a rock show 00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:17.120 and someone 00:35:17.120 --> 00:35:17.960 opened fires 00:35:17.960 --> 00:35:18.780 inside. 00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:21.200 Never safe 00:35:21.200 --> 00:35:22.840 apart from Christ. 00:35:24.160 --> 00:35:25.000 Pray for repentance. 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:26.860 Pray 00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:29.539 for the perpetrators 00:35:29.539 --> 00:35:31.539 of such acts 00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.260 and those who are 00:35:32.260 --> 00:35:32.720 going to come 00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:33.340 behind them. 00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.420 The waves 00:35:34.420 --> 00:35:35.420 of terror 00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:35.940 that we're going 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:36.559 to experience 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:37.620 in this world. 00:35:38.180 --> 00:35:39.400 Pray for them 00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.599 as well. 00:35:40.720 --> 00:35:41.599 And I know 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.840 that is hard. 00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:44.700 My mind 00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:45.300 and my heart 00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:46.500 immediately goes 00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.820 to pray for vindication. 00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:50.180 Vindicate your people. 00:35:50.740 --> 00:35:51.820 Punish and destroy. 00:35:52.300 --> 00:35:53.440 Eternal damnation 00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:54.340 is what they deserve. 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:57.240 God has been good 00:35:57.240 --> 00:35:58.340 to us 00:35:58.340 --> 00:35:59.099 even though 00:35:59.099 --> 00:35:59.780 we were his enemy. 00:36:00.200 --> 00:36:01.420 They are no more 00:36:01.420 --> 00:36:02.420 his enemy 00:36:02.420 --> 00:36:03.920 than we were. 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:05.660 The Ninevites 00:36:05.660 --> 00:36:06.700 are a wonderful 00:36:06.700 --> 00:36:08.099 example of this. 00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:09.119 You know why Jonah 00:36:09.119 --> 00:36:09.719 didn't want to go 00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:10.299 to the Ninevites? 00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:11.460 Because the Ninevites 00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:13.619 were wickedly evil 00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:14.779 and had been horrible 00:36:14.779 --> 00:36:15.779 to Israel. 00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:18.059 They were known 00:36:18.059 --> 00:36:19.339 for cutting off 00:36:19.339 --> 00:36:20.739 limbs of their captors, 00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:23.860 for skinning them alive. 00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.339 Horrible, 00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:26.480 horrible things. 00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:27.400 Atrocities 00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:28.039 had been delivered 00:36:28.039 --> 00:36:29.759 upon the Israelites. 00:36:30.460 --> 00:36:31.239 Jonah was afraid 00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:31.839 that God would 00:36:31.839 --> 00:36:33.019 actually save them. 00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:34.420 He can't possibly 00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:36.000 go to them. 00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:39.719 pray for ISIS. 00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:42.260 Pray for the radical Muslims 00:36:42.260 --> 00:36:43.360 in the world. 00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:44.500 God is greater 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:46.719 than their upbringing 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:48.239 and their ideologies. 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:50.719 We ought not only pray 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:51.460 for repentance, 00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:53.639 we should go 00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:55.199 to the world. 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:57.840 There's so much 00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:59.380 tragic death. 00:36:59.960 --> 00:37:01.420 There's so much 00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:02.380 evil. 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.940 To keep our analogies 00:37:03.940 --> 00:37:04.360 together, 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:05.680 we call this darkness. 00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:06.380 And we're meant 00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:07.019 to be light 00:37:07.019 --> 00:37:08.680 in those places. 00:37:08.880 --> 00:37:09.200 We're not meant 00:37:09.200 --> 00:37:10.140 to huddle together 00:37:10.140 --> 00:37:11.000 as light 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:12.300 in a singular spot. 00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:13.920 Hear me say this, 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:14.400 church. 00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:15.920 The church of Christ 00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:17.140 is gathered together 00:37:17.140 --> 00:37:18.200 in order 00:37:18.200 --> 00:37:19.260 for us 00:37:19.260 --> 00:37:20.160 to go. 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:21.920 This is the mission 00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:23.079 of the church. 00:37:23.640 --> 00:37:24.340 All the good 00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:25.079 that we do together, 00:37:25.280 --> 00:37:25.880 all the bringing 00:37:25.880 --> 00:37:26.940 of our minds together, 00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:28.260 all the prayers, 00:37:28.360 --> 00:37:29.340 the shifting of our hearts, 00:37:29.340 --> 00:37:30.680 all of those things 00:37:30.680 --> 00:37:32.100 are meant 00:37:32.100 --> 00:37:32.900 for us 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:34.320 to go. 00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:36.059 And I will say 00:37:36.059 --> 00:37:36.440 this to you, 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:37.260 I praise God 00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:38.260 for so much 00:37:38.260 --> 00:37:39.680 health 00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:40.840 in this congregation, 00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:43.400 so many good things, 00:37:43.600 --> 00:37:44.539 so many evidences 00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:45.500 of His work, 00:37:45.740 --> 00:37:46.320 but I will say 00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:46.680 to you, 00:37:46.820 --> 00:37:48.059 I cannot say 00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:49.720 this church is healthy 00:37:49.720 --> 00:37:50.700 until this church 00:37:50.700 --> 00:37:51.280 is going. 00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.900 Let's go. 00:37:54.120 --> 00:37:54.880 Let's go. 00:37:55.120 --> 00:37:55.860 Let's go. 00:37:56.120 --> 00:37:57.620 People are perishing. 00:37:58.059 --> 00:37:59.200 Let's go to France. 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:00.780 Let's go to Syria. 00:38:01.420 --> 00:38:02.400 Let's go to Iraq 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:03.000 and Iran. 00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:03.480 Right? 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:04.440 These people need 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:04.960 the gospel 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:07.519 of Jesus Christ. 00:38:08.680 --> 00:38:09.460 Pray for repentance. 00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:10.680 Go. 00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:11.500 Go to your neighbor. 00:38:13.059 --> 00:38:15.079 Go to your classmate 00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:16.519 and your workmate. 00:38:18.420 --> 00:38:19.220 Let's go. 00:38:20.700 --> 00:38:22.120 God is providential 00:38:22.120 --> 00:38:23.960 in the terror attacks 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.300 in Paris. 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:25.140 He ordained it 00:38:25.140 --> 00:38:26.840 and other calamity 00:38:26.840 --> 00:38:27.200 in the world 00:38:27.200 --> 00:38:28.059 for the sake of His glory, 00:38:28.140 --> 00:38:28.620 specifically 00:38:28.619 --> 00:38:30.539 by calling all men 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:32.039 to repent. 00:38:32.779 --> 00:38:33.619 I appreciated 00:38:33.619 --> 00:38:34.759 John Piper 00:38:34.759 --> 00:38:35.980 in an NPR interview 00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:38.380 after the Indian Ocean tsunami 00:38:38.380 --> 00:38:39.679 in 2004. 00:38:39.880 --> 00:38:40.279 You recall, 00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:40.980 that happened 00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:42.659 the day after Christmas 00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:44.299 in 2004. 00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:46.159 So early January 2005, 00:38:46.839 --> 00:38:47.380 he was interviewed 00:38:47.380 --> 00:38:47.940 on NPR 00:38:47.940 --> 00:38:48.599 and he just did 00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:49.699 such a wonderful job 00:38:49.699 --> 00:38:50.599 of honoring God 00:38:50.599 --> 00:38:51.539 in the way 00:38:51.539 --> 00:38:52.599 he explained this. 00:38:52.759 --> 00:38:53.319 But he said, 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:54.799 and I just want you 00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:56.160 to hold this phrase, 00:38:56.620 --> 00:38:57.620 God is always 00:38:57.620 --> 00:38:58.960 mingling mercy 00:38:58.960 --> 00:39:00.940 and judgment. 00:39:02.060 --> 00:39:03.280 And this is what God 00:39:03.280 --> 00:39:04.620 did on behalf 00:39:04.620 --> 00:39:06.340 of the preacher. 00:39:07.560 --> 00:39:08.400 Ecclesiastes 4, 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.120 1 through 3, 00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:10.599 again I saw 00:39:10.599 --> 00:39:11.420 all the oppressions 00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:11.799 that are done 00:39:11.799 --> 00:39:12.420 under the sun 00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:13.619 and behold 00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.079 the tears 00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:14.679 of the oppressed 00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:15.880 and had no one 00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:16.500 to comfort them. 00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:18.259 On the side 00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:18.940 of their oppressors 00:39:18.940 --> 00:39:19.639 there was power 00:39:19.639 --> 00:39:20.739 and there was no one 00:39:20.739 --> 00:39:21.779 to comfort them. 00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:23.159 And I thought 00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:23.679 the dead 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:24.500 who are already dead 00:39:24.500 --> 00:39:25.139 more fortunate 00:39:25.139 --> 00:39:25.880 than the living 00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:26.900 who are still alive. 00:39:27.460 --> 00:39:28.819 But better than both 00:39:28.819 --> 00:39:29.460 is he 00:39:29.460 --> 00:39:31.079 who has not yet been 00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:32.179 and has not seen 00:39:32.179 --> 00:39:33.039 the evil deeds 00:39:33.039 --> 00:39:34.319 that are under 00:39:34.319 --> 00:39:35.259 the sun. 00:39:35.260 --> 00:39:35.880 You hear just 00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:36.780 the defeat 00:39:36.780 --> 00:39:38.720 in the writing 00:39:38.720 --> 00:39:39.400 of the preacher. 00:39:40.700 --> 00:39:41.820 Oh, meaningless. 00:39:42.660 --> 00:39:43.140 Meaningless. 00:39:43.740 --> 00:39:44.580 Look at all 00:39:44.580 --> 00:39:45.260 of the evil. 00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:45.820 It would be better 00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:47.780 not to be alive. 00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:48.380 It would be better 00:39:48.380 --> 00:39:50.440 to be already dead 00:39:50.440 --> 00:39:51.260 and to witness 00:39:51.260 --> 00:39:51.880 the evil 00:39:51.880 --> 00:39:53.160 of this day. 00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:54.080 But by the time 00:39:54.080 --> 00:39:54.500 he gets 00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:56.520 to Ecclesiastes 12 00:39:56.520 --> 00:39:57.900 in his summary 00:39:57.900 --> 00:39:59.520 God has moved 00:39:59.520 --> 00:40:00.060 his heart 00:40:00.060 --> 00:40:00.480 and he says 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:01.260 the end of the matter 00:40:01.260 --> 00:40:02.900 all has been heard. 00:40:03.700 --> 00:40:04.420 Fear God 00:40:04.420 --> 00:40:05.260 and keep 00:40:05.260 --> 00:40:06.500 his commandments 00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:08.000 for this is the whole 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:09.860 duty of men. 00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:10.980 Let's pray.