On June 24, two earthquakes—just 39 seconds apart—shook the South American nation of Venezuela. Measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, these earthquakes reduced buildings to rubble and killed around 3,300 people, with more deaths likely to be announced because around 50,000 people are still missing. Whenever horrible tragedies like this strike, people wonder where’s God in this?
These tragedies are a grim and sobering reminder that we live in a world that has been wrecked because of our sin. God created the world “very good” (Genesis 1:31)—no death, no suffering, and no earthquakes. But now, creation is cursed and groaning because of human sin. In a way, we are all responsible for that earthquake and the ensuing devastation—we sinned in Adam and we continue to sin. That’s why we should do what we can to help those in need—we’re all responsible for the mess of this world. Romans 8:22 describes a fallen world this way: “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”
It’s impossible to imagine the suffering of individuals and families in Venezuela as they pick through the rubble to search for loved ones, try to find sustenance and shelter, or head to makeshift morgues to identify a disfigured body. It should make us groan along with creation. But we do not groan as those with no hope because we know how this ends: It ends with Jesus creating a new heavens and a new earth.
We live in a broken world, and even in brokenness, God is working all things for the good of his people (Romans 8:28), even if we can’t fathom how he is doing so. And eventually, this broken world will be no more, and those who have trusted in Christ will dwell with him in a world that will once again be perfect, freed from the effects of sin and death.
“And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The first things passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Pray for the people of Venezuela. Pray that God will use this horrible tragedy to bring them to himself so that many more people might experience the joy and beauty of a restored creation with Jesus forever.
