CA Wildfires (Pt. 1) – Wind & Fire – INTRO

Our Father in Heaven has a BIG problem!  He has over 8.2 billion children, including 39.4 million in California.  He loves every one of them dearly, and although He is constantly speaking to them, only a few hear His voice and are obedient to Him.  According to Paul, God speaks continually to unbelievers through His creation to the point that “they are without excuse (Rom. 1:19-20).”  So, how do you think other loving fathers would normally handle this situation?  Wouldn’t they speak louder, hoping to get their children’s attention?  I believe that’s exactly what our Heavenly Father did with His California children the first week of the new year.  On January 7, 2025, the Eaton and the Palisades Fires, erupted in Southern California and grew into the second and fifth most destructive wildfires in California history.  Together, these fires caused the destruction of over 17,000 structures and claimed at least 29 lives.  But don’t misunderstand, a loving father would never punish his children by sending death and destruction, yet he will use current circumstances to get his children’s attention and speak loudly to warn and teach them.

Can SIN cause BAD THINGS to happen to people?

Sometimes life touches us personally with what the Bible calls “tribulation.”  We can also experience tribulation, including cataclysmic disasters and horrendous human suffering vicariously through varying degrees of closeness with others.  Either way, as we begin processing our feelings, our natural sense of right and wrong (conscience) kicks in to help us find solace and try to make sense of recent tragedies.  Then typically our religious beliefs, thoughts, and fears that we have embraced, but also wrestled with in the past, flood our minds afresh (faith).  Eventually that age-old question resurfaces somewhere in our thoughts: “Can the SIN a person commits against God cause bad things to happen?”  And then, “Is this WHY this disaster happened to these people?”  Typically, we file this entire subject somewhere in our minds under “karma,” “luck,” “sowing and reaping,” or even “the judgement of God.”

But it turns out that this kind of thinking is not a new phenomenon.  Jesus addressed this reasoning head on in His day, when there was also plenty of disasters and human suffering.  Notice how He targeted wrong thinking about sin and suffering by shifting His follower’s attention from others to making it personal to them.

The Purpose of Tribulation for Unbelievers

Luke 13:1-5  1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?  3 I tell you, NO; but unless you REPENT you will all likewise PERISH.  4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?  5 I tell you, NO; but unless you REPENT you will all likewise PERISH.”  Notice, He did not say to the unbelievers, “You will all suffer similar trials.”  But rather, “You will all likewise PERISH,” which means “YOU will all likewise DIE in your sins!

From God’s perspective, the purpose of disasters and suffering for unbelievers is not to punish “the worst sinners,” or even get them to sin less out of fear of suffering.  But clearly, in God’s mind, the purpose of disasters and suffering is a wake-up call for ALL MEN TO REPENT of their own sins, rather than trying to justify themselves by ignoring their sins or diminishing their severity by focusing on the “greater sins” of others.  When I believe that sin causes bad things to happen, then it’s easy to think when I escape what others have suffered that it’s a sign from God that my sin is inconsequential or less detestable to Him than other people’s sin.  But Jesus made it clear they were mistaken!  Paul would later write: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23);” “For the wages of sin is DEATH, but the gift of God is eternal LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23).”  “There is none righteous, not one; (Rom. 3:10).

A Corollary to This Wrong Thinking

The Lord gave me a corollary many years ago to this incorrect way of thinking.  He told me that many Church leaders, when things are going well in their respective ministries—large crowds, big offerings, new buildings, growing community influence, etc., they think it’s proof of My approval of everything they are doing.  I will never forget how what He said next shook me: “BUT IT IS NOT!” 

Paul gave us insight into the real problem with this wrong way of thinking: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works (human effort), lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2:8-9).”  God’s approval of me is based solely on His grace—what He does—not based on what I did or did not do.  What is it about a “FREE GIFT” we don’t understand?  If it’s not totally by grace, then there is room for boasting—believing God has accepted (overlooked) my sin while approving of all the “good” I’ve done.  “I’m a ‘good person,’—I don’t need to repent—shouldn’t all the good I’ve done greatly outweigh the bad?”  REALITY CHECK—If that is true, then “good people” can save themselves and have no need of Jesus or the cross!  The reality is God does NOT accept, overlook, or ignore even one sin because of my good WORKS!  But He does forgive every sin for which His blood (His death) has atoned for by GRACE through FAITH!  The only sins He can’t atone for are those I deny or think they aren’t bad enough to REPENT of (turn from), while bringing them to the cross by FAITH, where I can believe they are blotted out forever by His GRACE (His free gift) through His BLOOD!

The Purpose of Tribulation for Believers

Remember, when Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized, He had done nothing to earn or deserve His Father’s approval—no miracles, no healings, no sermons, etc.  Yet, He received the Father’s blessing and complete approval through these eleven words: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased (Mat. 3:17, Mk. 1:11, Lk. 3:22).”  Jesus received His identity and approval at the BEGINNING, not at the end of His ministry—the same way we must: by GRACE through FAITH—otherwise my ministry is nothing more than doing good WORKS through my own human effort—NOT my new identity in Christ!

John 16:29-33  29 His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!  30 Now we are sure that You know all things and have no need that anyone should question You.  By this we believe that You came forth from God.”

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?  32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered (true FAITH must be exercised and strengthened), each to his own, and will leave Me alone (It’s easier to have FAITH when we can see Jesus, but true FAITH believes even when I can’t see Him, because I KNOW He is always with me).  And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

The disciples heard the Word and it produced FAITH (Vs. 30), but true FAITH must be exercised and strengthened by tribulation!  Remember, at Jordan, when Jesus heard the Word of the Father confirming His identity and approval, it produced FAITH in Jesus, but what happened next?  Jesus was led into the wilderness—a place of tribulation for His FAITH in the WORD He heard to be exercised and proven.  The first words out of the devil’s mouth were: “If you are the Son of God” prove it—negate your FAITH by works of the flesh!  Jesus proved His FAITH by refusing and quoting the written Word. 

33 These things (concerning the Father being with Me and giving Me peace) I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace (eirene – a state of concord, harmony).  In THE WORLD (kosmos – a place hostile with God and wholly at odds with anything divine, state of separation—no concord or harmony) you will have TRIBULATION (thlipsis - trouble, distress, oppression); but (as believers) be of good cheer (courageous, firm and resolute in the face of danger and adverse circumstances), I have OVERCOME (nikao – conquered - but not through the flesh, through the Spirit!)  THE WORLD (kosmos). (NKJV)