Introduction : No matter how they may make a voyage over any kind of ocean with high waves, if the captain of the ship knows well the sailing course, having confidence in the control of the ship, the ship can be safe. Our voyage in life is the same. Even though the waves on the sea of life are high, if the goal of life is clear and if a person has sound faith to overcome the billows, he/she can overcome fate and the environment. How has life in this world become so hard, and where can we receive faith that is able to overcome this bitter human world?
1. The origin (epicenter) of the three calamities (disasters). 1) The will of God was not a disaster but peace and blessing - the Garden of Eden (Jer 29:11; Ge 2:8). 2) The cause of the disasters is due to Adam's rebellion. - Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (Jas 1:15). 3) The start of divine judgment and disaster. (1) The disaster of death of the spirit. - Death is not annihilation but to be disconnected from communication. Adam was forsaken by God, and their communication was disconnected ?Ro 3:23). (2) The disaster of the environmental curse. - The earth has been cursed; as a consequence, thorns and thistles were produced, and by the sweat of the brow we can eat food (Ge 3:17-19). - As if we row upstream and climb up a steep hill, it is a weary life. (3) The disaster of bodily death that the body returns back to the earth. - Getting old and returning back to the earth, getting diseased, and because of accidents, we return back to the earth. - Since Adam, a river of dark water from these three great disasters surges through all the earth and all history, and all people are drinking water from this river of suffering (Hos 4:1,2; Jer 17:13).
2. The Threefold Blessing. 1) God incarnated (Isa 7:14). - Humankind must pay for the sin that humanity commits. Among the descendants of Adam, there is no one who is able to pay the price of sin. Jesus came as the descendant of a woman, not as the descendant of Adam (Ge 3:15). 2) Jesus' complete life of obedience and faith of thirty-three years (Heb 4:14-16). 3) Jesus became an atoning sacrifice for humanity (Isa 53:4-8). 4) The Threefold Blessing (3 Jn 1:2). (1) The blessing that quickens the spirit (Eph 2:1; 2:4-6; Gal 4:6,7). (2) The blessing on the environment (Gal 3:13,14; Dt 28:2-6; Mt 11:28-30). (3) The blessing of health (Mt 8:16,17; 1 Pe 2:24; Jn 7:37,38).
3. Priorities - what to do first and what to do later. 1) Ask first for spiritual life (Mt 6:33). (1) Serve God first - keeping the Lord's Day (Isa 56:2). (2) Communicate always with God - prayer and Word (Ps 119:169-171). (3) Live the life of an evangelist (2 Ti 4:2). 2) Do everything for the glory of God. (1) The law of sowing and reaping - the tithe is a seed of blessing; in addition, sow for the work of the Lord (Mt 7:12; Mal 3:10). (2) Sharing life - sharing joy is greater than possessing it (Lk 6:38; Ac 20:35; Ecc 11:1). 3) A healthy life. (1) Keep God's temple clean (1 Co 6:19,20). (2) Work six days and rest on the seventh (Ex 20:11; 2 Ti 1:7; 1 Th 5:16-18).
Conclusion : Through the Word of God, we have known the cause of the disasters that are rampant around us. In order to overcome disasters and to receive a life of victory and blessing, by believing in Jesus and being in Him, we can have the faith to live boldly.
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