Slideshow image

Jesus' words in John 10 perhaps carry more weight this week due to the severe events that have taken place in our nation. According to Jesus, the devil delights in and is focused upon that which robs humanity of what God intends us to have and enjoy.

He wants to end lives.

He wants to take that which belongs to God for His purposes.

He wants to ruin what God is building.

No matter what context you apply it to, that is the devil's longing.

The past 14 days have recorded another school shooting, a refugee murdered, and a political activist assassinated.

Each of these events accomplished the devil’s work.

In a wave of posts, live streams, newscasts, stories, and articles, please grant me a few moments more of your time to wrap our minds biblically around these awful events with some hopefully helpful ideas.

  • Sin should still grieve us.

I fear that the reduction of the Holy Spirit's fruit in lives in our country due to less genuine followers of Christ also means less restraint regarding sin and therefore a numbness due to its increased "normalcy". In public ways, lives were lost this week and there is an awful shock factor involved due to the digital age in which we live. In this digital age, we are more aware than ever of the heinousness of human nature. As Christians, if we are not careful, we can become somewhat "used" to the carnage of sin rather than grieve it. I understand certain scenarios carry bigger implications or consequences, but let us not be people who grieve "newsworthy" sin and not the effects of it around us each day. Sin causes brokenness and mourning in Christians' lives.

  • People do not end up where they are at on accident.

How did any of the perpetrators of these grotesque crimes arrive at the point in their lives where intentional, malicious violence became their solution? No doubt, there are a variety of unique factors that contributed to each person's decision, but what we should remember is that none of them arrived at that point without being influenced. Hopefully, this makes each person, parent, pastor, boss, coworker, or family member pause to ask how they are proactively discipling people towards Jesus/the Gospel or in Jesus/the Gospel. Do people have their own volition? Sure. Are you able to be a significant voice for God that is used to radically alter their current state and future outcome? ABSOLUTELY!

  • The fruit of the Spirit should be evident in our characterization of such moments and our conversations after them.

Would you be glad to have your conversations or social media posts or texts responses read in front of your boss, church, spouse, child, or grandchild after such a moment occurs? Would they be decidedly different in their worldview than someone off the street or on television news? As Christians, we are called and commanded to be biblical in our worldview. This requires us to interpret what takes place around us through the lens of righteousness and eternity. If our thoughts, words, posts, or conversations are conveying an unbiblical attitude or outlook, repentance is essential.

  • Mourn over sin, mourn over sinners, but have hope.

That awful feeling...like a weight got dropped on your chest whenever you read or heard about any of these horrific events. I am brought to tears thinking about the parents who could not pick up their kids from school, the refugee's dreams of a better life shattered by senseless violence in a better country, and a family who shared their last "everything" Wednesday morning. I mourn and trust you do as well. As unpalatable as it may be, the Spirit requires I mourn for the perpetrators of this nonsense. Christians are able to do so because we are people of enduring hope because of Christ. He cares for us all (Col. 1:15-18). He died for us all (John 3:16). He cares for the afflicted (Heb. 4:14-16). He calls out to the "unforgivable" (Luke 9:51-56). He will righteously judge all things in a final fashion (Rev. 20-21). Apart from the finished work of our risen Lord, these events would have no meaning, no value, and only brokenness as a purpose. With Him being risen, such horrific displays of sin are able to serve His purposes of hope and redemption.

The devil's work is far from over, but it has an expiration date. Let us pray as he and his servants prey on those around us. Let us be voices for the Gospel more than we are for political parties, immigration ideas, beliefs about firearms, or the value of nationalism. Let us be fervent in our daily surrender to serve Christ in whatever ways He sees fit as our lives are "just a vapor".

Serving together,

Pastor Paul