Bringing Relief

On Tuesday, the island nation of Haiti—already a desperately poor nation—was devastated by a major earthquake. As we write this, estimates were that over 100,000 people were already dead and that many more could be dying in the rubble of so many collapsed buildings. For the three million people above ground, a lack of food/water and good sanitation conditions could make the death toll climb into the hundreds of thousands.

Answers in Genesis has commented before on why such deadly tragedies occur, and along the way has answered a question which often comes to people’s minds (Christian and non) at such a time: “If there is a God, why is there so much suffering and death in the world?” Read our free online chapter from the New Answers Book 1 on this very question, and then please pass it on to others. Also, search out a Christian-based charity that will be involved in the massive Haitian relief effort—news reports over the next few hours and days will probably mention some fine organizations.

As you show your compassion with a generous gift to a relief agency and as you pray for this spiritually dark nation of Haiti (and for the relief workers), also use this time to help people who are in your sphere of influence with answers to the suffering/death question. You have an opportunity to explain to your friends and family why we have earthquakes, tsunamis, and death in this world: they occur because of what happened in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3).

But a loving God offers salvation for mankind through a special kind of relief. A perfect Man, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, suffered a cruel death on the cross to bear the guilt of our sins, but then He conquered death through His Resurrection—and His free gift of salvation is now available.

“By grace you are saved through faith, and that is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).