Jesus never promised us lives free of tribulation and calamity. Indeed He warned His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33, NKJV). The current COVID-19 pandemic that has engendered so much fear and panic is not the first—nor will it be the last—crisis people will experience in this world.
On January 17, 1994, Los Angeles was struck by an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale. Just six days later, John MacArthur entered the pulpit of Grace Community Church to minister to a congregation still reeling from the devastation and ongoing aftershocks. His message was titled “Lessons from the Earthquake,” a sermon as timely today as it was twenty-six years ago. It remains a powerful reminder to maintain a godly, eternal perspective on the events around us. As John said that morning,
I think there are definitely some things we need to learn on the temporal side—the earthly side—about buildings and roads and emergencies and processes and all of that. But those kinds of things aren’t really what this earthquake should primarily teach us. There are lessons to learn that are far more profound than anything that is temporal. We need to contemplate the reality of what’s gone on from a biblical perspective—from the Lord’s perspective—and how it is to be viewed in line with His purposes and His will.
There are two categories of lessons to be learned: Lessons for those who are Christians and lessons for those who are non-Christians. Another way of saying it would be lessons for those who are prepared to die and lessons for those who are not prepared to die. . . . An earthquake like this is a profound teacher. And the lessons it teaches are equally profound.
John lays out fourteen lessons in all—seven for believers and another seven for unbelievers. They are encouraging, energizing, and also deeply convicting reminders of the calling and opportunity God has placed upon our lives as His people—the glorious responsibility to bring the light of the gospel to a world engulfed in darkness.
Click here to listen to “Lessons from the Earthquake.”
