Last week, I posted an article entry on Ecclesiastes 9:11-12, and today, I want to revisit that passage for one simple reason, which is that it pertains all the more to what we see in the hurricane Helen aftermath. Let me establish what I am NOT saying. I am NOT SAYING that God caused this hurricane to punish bad people or anyone for that matter. A lot of good, God fearing, Christian folk have been affected in a very negative and devistating way for no reason of their own. What we have seen is "Natural Evil" which occurs the the earth's natural processes.
WHAT I AM SAYING
What I am saying is simply that God has ALLOWED natural evil to come upon a portion of the Western mountains of NC, SC, GA and TN. Why would God do this? I can’t answer for God, but I trust Him, and I would like to share with you some of what I have seen in my limited view of the aftermath.
FIRST, I have seen many GOOD people whose lives have been devastated. These are good, God fearing Christians who did nothing but out live out their faith in their communities. I have no clue as to WHY God would allow so many to be devastated and many more folks are stranded and in need of life-saving support and supplies. The encouraging news is that there are more civilians than government relief personnel on the ground.
SECOND, what spurred me to write today’s entry was a television/YouTube interview showing a nicely shaven gentleman with a well trimmed black beard. He seemed like a great guy who one might mistake as a Christian. His shirt, if he knowingly understood what it represented, had quite a bit of graphics going on. The shirt was very creative and colorful and inviting. But, in the center, was a big “PENTAGRAM” or SATANIC star, which pointed DOWN. The WICCA star points up, but his (representing Satanism) pointed down. If you met this guy at the store or while helping with relief, you might think he was Johnny from aunt Elma’s house next door. The important thing is for us to see him as one created in God's image, not Satan's image. He is a nice guy who is lost. Instead of fearing or hating on him and others like him, we can take the opportunity to see the current devastation (situation) as an opportunity to share the Christian faith with folks like this gentleman.
THIRD, it's important to understand that the mountains of NC are filled with Christians and non-christians. Boone in truth is really split into two parts: The Christian areas and the secular. Many in the secular areas are full of secular artists which can as well include Christian ones. In secular area, sex, drugs and the occult, including WICCA and Satanism are accepted as valid and acceptable. In the conservative/Christian areas of Boone, Christians understand Satan to be the enemy and the author of WICCA as well (which are two different things). They are correct. This was a mission field before Helen and it is an even better mission field in the present. Below is one group I found on the internet to illustrate the openness of WICCA and Satanism in Boone and the surrounding area.
FIND COVENS, GROUPS & ORGANIZATIONS
A Networking Resource for Finding Covens, Pagans, Spiritual Groups or Like Minded Individuals In North Carolina (is BOONE, NC BASED)
https://www.mandragoramagika.com/north-carolina
WHAT IS MY POINT?
The simple point I want to make is that God is, and will continue to do a work in Boone and all other areas affected by Hurricane Helen. In Charlotte, the lives of many have stopped while they seek ways in which they can help these poor folks in the mountains sustain life first and help them rebuild second. Helping folks with the essentials of life and aid in rebuilding their communities are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ for many if not most relief efforts. And that is the great news.
FOURTH: THE GREAT NEWS
North Carolina is blessed with both Samaritan’s Purse and Coca-Cola, both which have Christian, faith based “Rapid Response” units. Last week I posted our Trail Life boys and dads were going to Boone to partner with and help Samaritan’s Purse distribute food, water, and supplies to folks in need in Boone. The great news is that EVERYONE was coming to Samaritan’s Purse as the PREMIERE RELIEF ORGANIZATION in the mountains. In many cases, Samaritan’s Purse is going to them and doing so despite whether they are Christians, Wiccan, Satanists, atheists, Muslim, Hindu or otherwise to bring LOVE, the Truth of God, and physical aid to them.
MY TAKE is that by meeting the physical needs of those not saved by the blood of Jesus Christ-the truth about the True God of the universe through Jesus Christ is proclaimed LOUDLY. That is an opportunity that would be lost otherwise. What a BLESSING that Samaritan's Purse has two distribution centers in the mountains! In the end though, I want to go back to Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 and focus on verse 12 which says, "For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.”
In reality, non of us know the hour we will be called home. Non of us know when evil or calamity will befall us. Non of us know when good things will happen to us either in most cases. The main point is that in all of this, we are to come together, help one another in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST, and see the current devastation as a rare opportunity to share the Christian faith. Many Christians have lost all they have, but so have many Wiccan and Satanists. When all is lost, God becomes REAL. Very REAL. And this is what I wanted to share with you today. I want to encourage you to contact Samaritan’s Purse to see how you can help. Perhaps work with your church to see how you can help with immediate needs and how you might help rebuild the broken lives of so many in need. That is my prayer for you and I. Finally, let's be in DEEP PRAYER for all those affected, and then watch God do a BIG WORK in Boone, NC and all areas affected by Hurricane Helen.
Ecclesiastes 9:11–12
“ Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.”