January 19,1998
Dear Br. Herald:
Approximately ten days ago, it rained. Now this is not an unusual occurrence, certainly not one to be made the subject of a letter to my brother, but this rain was special. We live in the mountains of East Tennessee. One common feature of rain, is that it runs down hill, and, because we have many hills in our region, this particular rain, which fell all night in abundance, ran down hill into the low lying areas of Hampton, the suburbs of Elizabethton, killing eight people and destroying dozens of homes, many if which were mobile homes.
Sevilla and I used to live in Berrien Springs, in Southwest Michigan.
A river ran through the town that was restrained by a dam. Perched
on bluffs, over looking the river, the town was picturesque, (somewhat).
On a low, flat plane, on the East side of the river, within sight
of the 80 foot dam, was a trailer park. (Your probably thinking
that I’m going to relate that this area was flooded.) I was
impressed then and still have the same reaction, today, in light
of the tragedy in Hampton to ask, why do people build their homes
in dangerous areas or potential flood planes?
We live on the side of a mountain, at least 150 feet above the
shores of Lake Watagua. It would take another Noah’s flood
to swamp our apartment, but ever here, we’re not totally
safe from disasters, which seem to accumulate everywhere. Only
the grace of the Lord protects us, but we don’t have to tempt
Satan by deliberately or carelessly, or thoughtlessly living in
a dangerous area. This is another reason why we moved into the
country. There are evil people everywhere, but there is an abundance
of them in town, therefore, we move where their concentration
is lighter.
Please do not assume that I have some special reason for writing
as I do. I often communicate with my brothers on general terms,
leaving the application to the Holy Spirit. It just seems to me,
that we are often very careless in the placement of our homes
and indifferent to the evidences of dangers all about us. God
expects us to use our common sense in deciding where to build
or live.
I truly feel sorry for those folks who lost their lives and homes
and these words should not be construed as censuring or criticizing
them in their time of bereavement or discomfort, but we can learn
from their experience and look about ourselves to determine the
dangers that may threaten. The world is changing. No longer is
it as safe as formerly. Many people are sound asleep to the accumulating
dangers that threaten us on every side. They reason, that since
they have lived in peace and safety all their lives, the world
will continue as it has, but no greater mistake could be made.
Sudden death and destruction are but waiting the most auspicious
time to sweep us into eternity when we least expect it. We may
retire at night, as did those poor folks in Hampton, safe in the
presumed knowledge that all will continue as it has, but fail
to awake in the morning. Or we may awake to water swirling around
the foot of the bed and our trailer floating down river into oblivion.
Only as we place our trust and confidence in the Lord, may we
rest secure in His arms. However, this does not guarantee that
we shall be beyond misfortune, but should it strike, we may trust
the consequences with God.
This week, I wrote a letter to an individual who believes that
God uses such disasters, as this flood, to take people to heaven.
This is most assuredly not true. If God were capricious, snatching
one person to heaven, while leaving another to suffer, how then
could He expect us to love Him, never knowing when His whim may
snatch away our loved ones. Satan is the author of floods and
disasters of all types. It is his greatest delight to destroy,
wound, kill, cause misery, and convince us that it is God who
inflicts these things upon us. Someone should sue him for libel
for spreading these lies.
How can we love someone who goes about killing and wounding. Rightly
so, we condemn murders and thieves, why then would we love a God
who murders and steels things by destroying them? It is one of
Satan’s greatest deceptions, when we call floods an act of
God. Rightly, they should be referred to as acts of Satan, if
we are to retain truth in advertising.
I trust that you are in good health and are praising the Lord.
Should you be suffering from illness, I pray that the Lord may
lay his hand upon you and restore your health that you may praise
him for his gracious kindness. May the Lord richly bless and protect
you. Your brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson