Over sixty-seven (67) people have perished in the Maui fires, and an estimated one thousand plus are missing. Communication is knocked out, there are no utilities, three thousand buildings are destroyed, and many loved ones are separated, unable to ascertain if those they love are alive. At present the fires are not contained, and “some families huddled together as flames surrounded their homes,” while “those who were in harbor when the flames came, jumped into ocean to save their lives.” (Fox News). There have been women wailing for loss of their mea aloha (loved ones), it broke my heart to hear their distress! Thirty percent (30%) of Hawaiians are Protestant brothers and sisters! It is such a tragedy, and we saints should pray for people of Maui, that in their plight they are met with Christ’s love and assistance in form of miracles, angelic intervention, telecommunications restored, medical aid, food & prescriptions (“one Mauian would not leave his home due to Diabetes meds in ice box,” Fox News) package, and whatever practical needs they have as the apostle James commands, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well,” (James 2:8), “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,” (James 2:15-17), and “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you,” (James 1:27). We should pray, but if we can help in other ways, we should step in, and send help. That can be difficult in who to trust sending donations to, for there are many who take advantage in such a crisis, even major relief organizations have been criticized for mishandling donations in prior crises. It is also impossible to volunteer and enter the island of Maui, no one is allowed in why the fires remain not contained.
At this juncture our prayers and taking a chance on donating to say The American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/local/california/northern-california-coastal/about-us/news-and-events/press-releases/red-cross-responds-to-hawaii-wildfires.html) is are about all we can do. We ought to pray that the Lord console the mourning, bring call to the distressed, and do miracles to rescue those trapped. We should pray the fires are extinguished so relief can enter and people will be able to find each other. There are not words I can offer of consolation to those who have lost loved ones & property, all I can say is “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18). People will undoubtedly ask “why did God allow this to happen?” Some will even say its the judgement of God. I believe it simply is this world is fallen, and all creation is under the curse which causes fires that kill, “And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;.. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17-19),a curse God wanted to keep us from , “The Lord said, ‘but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die,” (Genesis 2:17) but our ancestors Adam and Eve in choose death and to bring a curse to the Earth. So do not blame God.
Pray for our Protestant brothers and Sisters that they will be rescued in this time of suffering. And for the unbelievers that by loving them as neighbors and offering help to them that they will come to know Jesus and have eternal security of heaven and everlasting life in Him by faith. Amen.
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