"Over all, God reigns! The all-wise and beneficent Creator manifestly has fashioned this globe, through countless ages, for the habitation of man, His highest creation. It is unthinkable that God would abandon either this physical earth or man created in His image. The earthquake, the tornado, elemental disaster of any kind, endures but a moment and is a mere ephemeral episode in the long stretches of time. God is good and His mercy and his tenderness overrule even the fury of the elements."
The above quotation is from a California newspaper's report of an earthquake some time ago. The editor, differing from many of our newspaper men today, was neither a skeptic nor an atheist, and the regard with which he wrote concerning God—Creator, and upholder of the universe—is to be appreciated, especially so in a day of widespread infidelity.
When such dread calamities as earthquakes, tornadoes, tidal waves occur, where human life is so suddenly cut off, and many are made to suffer, people need to pause and thoughtfully inquire the reason and the intended lessons. In every such calamity, we cannot always say they come directly from the hand of God, yet we can always say that every such circumstance is permitted by Him, which is quite a different thing.
God has not only created all, but He has established a perfect government in His own universe, over which He is the Superintendent. As it is written, "All things subsist [are held together] by Him." And He "upholds all things by the word of His power."
No natural calamity occurs without His permission, and at times it may be directly from Him. His wisdom and knowledge are higher than our highest thought; so under all such circumstances we will be wise to bow low, listen, and inquire of Him.
God also speaks to men by circumstances. He watches all the various movements and changes in His own universe. His eye is constantly upon nations and men. He observes every change, from crowned head to republic to dictatorship. And every event forges a further link in the mighty chain that leads up to the great finale. When evil shall display itself in the future "Man of sin," then suddenly the once-rejected and crucified Savior will re-appear from heaven and all evil will be put down. Then, blessed be God, He shall be Governor among the nations, "King of kings and Lord of lords."
In the meantime, dear child of God, His eye is on you and He holds you safely in the hollow of His hand. Do you not know that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered?"