Terrorists and Death
By Ken Ham and Dr Jonathan
Sarfati
We offer our sympathy to all the families who have lost loved ones as a result of the devastating terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001. These were cowardly acts of suicide/mass murder by terrorists who lack the slightest respect for human life.
As the shock of these horrible events subsides, many people are probably asking
why such horrible things occur. Others may be asking questions such as: ‘How
can there be a loving God controlling the universe in the light of such death and
suffering?’
We have written much on the subject of death and violence—articles are available on this Web site, e.g. Why would a loving God allow suffering?
From a perspective of the literal history of the Book of Genesis, the perfect world—described by God as ‘very good’—was marred because of Adam’s rebellion. Sin entered the world that was once a paradise.
Because Adam was the head of the human race, and we are all descendants of Adam,
the Bible makes it clear that we all sinned in Adam (Romans
5:12 ff.;
1 Corinthians 15:21–22). In
1 Corinthians 15:26, Paul describes death as the ‘last
enemy.’ And that’s the point—death is an
enemy—it’s an intrusion. Death of man and the animals was not a part
of the original creation.
Sadly, those who teach that the world is millions of years old have no coherent
answer as to why there is death and suffering in the world. If one believes in millions
of years, then death and suffering have been a permanent part of this world. For
those Christians who have believed in the supposed millions of years of history,
then they have effectively taught that God describes all this death and suffering
as ‘very good’ (Genesis
1:31). It’s worse if one believes ‘God used evolution,’
because evolution relies on death of the ‘unfit’—this would mean
that God actually used ‘the last enemy’ as His means to achieve a ‘very good’ creation.
The Bible makes it clear that death is the penalty for our sin. In other words,
it is really our fault that the world is the way it is. When we
sinned in Adam, we effectively said that we wanted life without God. All of us also
sin individually—Romans
3:23. God had to judge sin, as He warned Adam He would (Genesis
2:17, cf.
3:19). In doing so, God has given us a taste of life without Him—a world that is running down—a world full of death and suffering. As
Romans 8:20–22 says, ‘the whole creation groans
and labors with birth pangs.’ Man in essence forfeited his
right to live.
It’s important to note that the Bible teaches that individual suffering
is part of this ‘big picture’; it is not always correlated
with a particular sin by that individual. Job suffered intensely although
he was the most righteous man on Earth. A man was born blind, and Jesus refuted
the idea that it was due to his own sin or his parents’; rather, it was to
demonstrate the power of God (when Jesus healed him—John
9).
Jesus said something directly applicable to this present tragedy: ‘There were present at that season some who told Him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, “Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? … Or those eighteen upon whom the tower of Siloam fell and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all other men
that dwelt in Jerusalem”?’ (Luke
13:1–4).
Unlike tragedies like the Tower of Siloam, but not unlike the Pilate massacre, these
ghastly events are indeed the consequence of individual human evil, i.e. of the
terrorists, not the victims. It is likely that the perpetrators were ones fuelled
in part by an intense hatred of the Christianity they still associate with America.
We all inherit this propensity to evil because of our descent from Adam. God in
His mercy, however, stepped into history in the person of his Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ (John
1:1–14). He became a man so He could suffer death (the penalty for
sin) on a cross, paying for the sins of His people (it also means that God Himself
can personally empathize with suffering, since He has experienced it). He also rose
from the dead, showing he had ultimate power—power over death (see also Did Jesus Christ really rise from the dead?).
Those who put their faith and trust in Christ as Savior can spend eternity with
the Lord in a place where there will be no more death (Revelation
21:4).
But the Bible warns that those who reject Christ will taste a
‘second death’—eternal separation from God (Revelation
21:8).
But God does not delight in the death of the wicked. ‘Say
unto them, As I live, said the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure
in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn
you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?’
(Ezekiel
33:11). In other words, God takes no pleasure in the afflictions and calamities
of people. He is a loving merciful God—it is our fault that man is in the
current situation of death and suffering.
God states, however, that ‘precious in the sight of the
LORD is the death of his saints’ (Psalms
116:15). This is because even though we are sinners, those who have
trusted Christ will spend eternity with their Creator in a place where righteousness
dwells—and there will be no more crying, suffering or death.
‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain: for the former things are passed away’ (Revelation
21:4).
Let this day of horrible tragedy be one in which people are reminded of the ultimate
cause for such calamity: our sin—our rebellion against God. Let this day also
be a reminder that a loving God, despite our sinfulness, wants us to spend eternity
with Him. And let this day be a reminder that Christians need to stretch forth a
loving, comforting arm to those who are in need of comfort and strength at this
time—and let’s help them find such strength in the arms of a loving
Creator who hates death, the enemy that will one day be thrown into the Lake of
Fire (Revelation
20:14).
Our hope is in Christ. As we remember this, please pray for the families that have
been affected by these horrible events.
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