2004年12月26日 — 一個令舉世震驚的日子，普世歡騰的聖誕節竟然在一瞬間變成了哀鴻遍野的災難日。印尼九級大地震引發了鄰近各國的驚天海嘯，轉眼間十多萬人罹難，失蹤及受損傷者不計其數。有誰料到安居小島、自得其樂，會突遭天劫、全島湮滅？有誰料到悠閒度假、碧波暢泳，會葬身怒海、客死他鄉 ? !

近年間發生很多全球性的天災人禍，1999年台灣發生「921大地震」，遇難者眾。踏入廿一世紀，天災人禍加劇，2001年美國發生「911災難」，世貿大樓在砰然一聲後變成頹垣敗瓦，幾許全球精英在剎那間魂斷高樓；繼後而來的禽流感、日本腦炎及瘋牛症，再加上2003年全球爆發的「非典型肺炎」，在這等疫症肆虐而死亡的人也為數不少！一波未平、一波再起，印尼大地震牽動南亞各國的怒海狂嘯，一場傷亡慘重、影響深遠的百年大災難無情地展開！或許有人會嗟嘆，世上為何災患連綿、無日無之？

親愛的朋友，原來聖經早已告訴我們，在耶穌基督再降臨之前必有災難發生，並且仿如生產前的陣痛，會愈來愈頻密、嚴重。沒有人希望遇見災難，承受因天災人禍而來的痛苦；然而，透過災難，卻能讓我們醒覺地上的歡樂是何等短暫，世人的生命是何等脆弱，並且主來的日子是何等逼近！以致，我們更懂得珍惜眼前人，更會思索生命、永恆的意義！

其實無論地上有沒有災難，世上均沒有一樣物質化的東西可以存留到永遠。無論怎樣幸福美滿的家庭，有一天都會過去；無論何等智慧富有的人士，有一天也會離逝。人不但會死亡，更需要面對死亡後從上帝而來的審判，因為聖經記著說：「人人都有一死，死後且有審判」（希伯來書9章27節）。然而，天上的真神不想世人承受這審判所帶來最大的苦難 — 永遠的滅亡！於是差遣主耶穌降生世上，為人背負罪的刑責，將救恩賞賜給世人。在世上我們會有苦難，但主耶穌勉勵我們可以放心，因為祂已經勝過世界，要把出人意外的平安賜給我們，即今生和永遠的平安。

親愛的朋友，人生際遇、財富、生命，沒有人控制得到。平安穩妥，便對生命有把握；但苦難呢？其實苦難讓我們知道誰是真正的保障！聖經記載：「我要向山 舉目，我的幫助從何而來？我的幫助從造天地的耶和華（神）而來。」（詩篇121篇1-2節）聖經亦指出：「天地都要如外衣漸漸舊了，你（神）要將天地如裡衣更換，天地就改變了。」（詩篇102篇26節）

親愛的朋友，創造天地、萬物的真神、帶來救恩的主耶穌，才是世人最大的保障；不管你過往如何，今天神願意成為你最大的保障，賜你喜樂、平安。你願意接受耶穌作你個人救主，讓祂為你揭開人生新的一頁嗎？

December 26, 2004 was a day that shocked the world. In a split second, a holiday that was filled with the joy of Christmas became a time of grief. The 9.0 magnitude quake in Indonesia affected the neighboring countries and the tsunami had led to the death toll of over a hundred thousand people. Scores remained unaccounted. Who would expect that a peaceful little island would suddenly be swept by this disaster? Who would ever imagine that the sea which was both beautiful and relaxing would suddenly bury people's lives?

In recent years, many disasters have affected the world. The earthquake of September 21, 1999 in Taiwan had affected lots of people. As we stepped into the 21st Century, more disasters struck us. In 2001, the attack of September 11 in USA caused the sudden collapse of the World Trade Centre, and many brilliant men and women in the world were buried there. Then, there was the avian flu, the Japanese Encephalitis virus and the mad cow disease. The atypical pneumonia that affected the world in 2003 also killed a great number of people. Before we can settle all these problems, the earthquake in Indonesia and the Asian tsunami broke out, and started another great disaster that will be lasting and devastating. Looking at all these disasters that go on without stopping, some people may ask, in grief, why all these happen to us.

Dear friends, it was written in the Bible that there would be lots of disasters before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It was also written that as it drew nearer to the time, disasters would become more frequent and intensive, just as a woman who was going through labor pain. Nobody wants to go through any kind of suffering that is brought by disasters, of course, yet through these disasters, we are suddenly awakened. We begin to see the brevity of happiness on earth, the fragility of human life, and the closeness of God's second coming. From all these traumatic happenings, we learn to value those who are close to us, contemplate the meaning of life and the meaning of eternity!

Actually, with or without plagues and disasters on earth, we ought to know that there is nothing materialistic in this world that can last forever. No matter how happy a family is, it will soon pass. No matter how intelligent and rich a person is, he will die some day. Man is mortal, and he will face God's judgment after death. According to the Bible, "everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God" (Hebrews 9:27). But God does not want man to go through the greatest suffering that is brought by the Judgment - eternal destruction. He, therefore, sent Jesus Christ to us on earth to bear our sins and punishment, so that by grace, man can be saved. Though there are sufferings on earth, God comforts us and tells us not to be afraid, for He has won over the world, and will grant us peace today and forever.

Dear friends, in life, what happens to us everyday, our wealth, or even our own lives, are completely beyond our control. When everything goes well, we may feel very secure, but at times of trouble, do we feel the same way? Actually, it is through suffering when we come to understand who we can really rely on. In the Bible, it was written: "I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2). In the same book, it was also written that "they [the earth and the heavens] will disappear, but you will remain; they will all wear out like clothes. You will discard them like clothes, and they will vanish" (Psalm 102:26).

Thus, my dear friends, the God who creates heaven and earth, Jesus Christ who brought salvation, is the only one that man can rely on. Whoever you were and whatever you did in the past, today, the Lord wishes to protect you, grant you joy and peace. Would you like to accept Jesus as your personal savior, and let Him turn over a new leaf for you?