ABC News: “live from the scene of the harrowing mass shooting in Las Vegas”
NBC News: “after gunman’s deadly spree, a lingering question: Why?”
FOX News: “Las Vegas shooter described as unstable”
Feelings and thoughts that are unsettling, fear-provoking, sorrow-filled, empty, perplexing, and doubting and threaten to give-up all hope, fill the mind.
How do we respond? How should we respond?
It’s difficult to know. I can’t imagine the nightmares that are being relived over and over in those who were present. I can’t imagine the fear of being in danger with nowhere to escape. I won’t pretend to understand what causes a mind to shatter and become someone who annihilates innocent people. I don’t know how to begin to comfort those who have experienced something so horrific. I am unable to explain how God allows such tremendous evil and pain in the world without just doing away with all of us.
This is what I do know. God has perfect knowledge and understanding.
Job 34:21 For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.
Heb 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
I know that God hates sin.
Pr 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who pursues righteousness.
He is all-powerful.
Job 42:2 “I know that Thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.
It doesn’t make sense to my limited mind. But I am convinced He has a plan. I’m convinced that plan is good. He never promised us all warmth and fuzzys on earth.
Mt 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
We want to hear God is love; we aren’t so excited to hear God is just.
De 32:4 “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
In fact, He promised His wrath on sin.
Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
I won’t begin to even try and understand how this all works. Is my thinking weak, is it a cop-out, a choice to not deal with something hard? No. I simply am unable to fully appreciate the ways of God.
Job 26:14 “Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; and how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?”
Do I need a reality check? No. Is God a fairy tale? No. Sin is real, very real. Evil is real, painfully real. God is true, He is the Truth.
Joh 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
Consider: The God of the Bible cannot be a fairy tale. No man would write a story that would contain the events in the Bible. It would never be a best-seller. People don’t flock to theaters to be reminded of how much they are in need. God’s word does contain a story, but it is not trivial. It’s real. However, it is not written by human understanding.
In the beginning, God. Creation of the world and all it contains. Providing all perfection. For man. Whom He loves. Then, man’s sin, challenging his Creator. What Father would not discipline His child whom He loves? The consequence, death. But whose? The offering of His Son, Jesus Christ, the perfect atonement.
Heb 2:9 But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, [namely,] Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Jesus willingly accepted our punishment.
God’s love for us is so far-reaching it is without human comprehension. He doesn’t ask for us to understand, just believe. Trust. Have faith.
Ac 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.”
Isa 43:10 “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.
So where are we left with the recent massacre in our country? How do we help? Share what you know to be true. If you knew for certain that a massive destruction would occur, and that it would take out the people you work with, the people in your neighborhood, those in your family, your friends, acquaintances and all others in your path, would you warn them? Of course. If you truly loved them and you truly believed in the source of your information, you would. So, are you?
Ro 10:8-9 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” –that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved;
Even in the wake of a harrowing mass shooting, we can have peace. Let’s concentrate on what we know rather than what we can’t understand. There is hope in the promises of God. We set our hope on His future return. He will make all things right.
Ps 39:7 “And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in Thee.
1Co 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
Ro 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
