Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
~Genesis 6:3

It’s interesting to see how no one is able to live much past 120 years. And this is God’s judgment. God decided that people will only live for so long and that’s it–then they go to meet their creator.

There are over 7 billion people on the planet today.

This leads to a sobering thought…

All 7 billion people alive today will be dead in 120 years.

Recently there was a tornado in Oklahoma. And, as what happens every time there is a major natural disaster, there are quotes and questions about God’s judgement and His goodness. It’s always controversial.

Suppose 40 people die in a hurricane. You ask two pastors, “Is this God’s judgement? Is God angry at us?”

The first answers, “No, God probably did not do this. God loves you. He is not angry. God is for you, not against you.”

The second answers, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Which response was more biblical?

It’s interesting how many people will get very upset at the second response. They throw their hands in the air and complain about how insensitive it is to say such things.

But it’s also interesting that no one seems to be throwing their hands in the air in protest over the fact that, according to God’s judgement, 7 billion people will soon be dead. Every 120 years the world experiences a silent judgement day.

Sin brings death and condemnation. Christ brings life and salvation.

When natural disasters happen people are woken up to the fact that death is very real and–as sure as God’s judgement–death comes to us all. While we use these times to show love and compassion by helping the people affected by the disaster, the last thing we want to do is start saying, “Peace, peace!” when there is no peace. These are the times when we speak the truth most strongly: God’s judgement and Christ’s salvation.

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world…

~C.S. Lewis