Something breaks my heart extra as tragedy after tragedy arises. I wince over the propeller of much of the outrage being some agenda, not compassion.
People are suffering at the hands of others…
Terrorists. Radicals. Criminals. People of all races. Police Officers. Child Predators. Children. Parents. Even Wild Animals.
Killed and killing.
And People are suffering.
Might the answer involve something related to guns?
Might the answer be training cops more effectively?
Might the answer be teaching children about the equality of all people?
Might the answer be spreading the word about injustice?
Might the answer be more social awareness in churches?
Might the answer be a hashtag going viral?
Maybe in part. Maybe a little. Maybe not.
One thing I know: the answer to the loss of a precious human life is not to turn the departed into a tool.
In this, I observe our world overlooking a bigger issue. One we’re not talking about because it’s offensive, it’s personal, and because we can’t solve or cure it ourselves (Jer 17:9.)
Sin.
Sin’s evil pervades the world and each person in it (Eccl 9:3.)
Evil doesn’t discriminate against weapon, race, gender, age, circumstance, or specie.
It will gladly use and abuse them all.
Because evil sees opportunity in the heart of man.
Evil knows what happens when it takes lives. People, scared, hurting people, get desperate. Showing righteous anger at times, but flailing in desperation. Desperation leads to more opportunities for evil.
It seems like evil triumphs these days.
But God. But our Savior lives. He has the ultimate victory. He can take our desperation and turn it into reliance on Him.
The one answer we know to the problem behind all of this, the one answer that we don’t want to talk about, is the love of Jesus Christ.
We know we need change. We know we need more love and respect. We know we need better self-discipline. We know our world is a crazy, unpredictable mess. We know- God, do we know- that we need hope and healing.
All of these are found in Christ.
To be part of the solution: be part of His work. Let Him save you. When He has, be praying. Be loving those around you. Be listening for the Lord’s instruction. Be sharing the only hope we have in this world, the only hope that remains through every opportunity evil takes. Be in Christ to be living in hope.
Praise the Lord that we have a refuge, a rock, and a protector to turn to in every hardship and tragedy. Praise the Lord that sin will not win in the end. Death and evil will not prevail (1 Cor 15:55, Psalm 18:2.)
This is where we need to start. This is what we need to hear. This is what we need to proclaim.
This is the only hope we have, and the only real, lasting, unchanging, unshakable hope we have to offer.
Christ says it straight, so that we can have peace in this crazy world:
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world!” –John 16:33
#LivesMatter indeed matters to God. Your life and my life matter so much to God that He gave His only son that whosoever -any life, any person- who believes in Him may be rescued from sin, saved by grace, and have eternal life (John 3:16.)
Offer this hope with comfort. Offer it with respect.
Please, offer it with compassion.
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Beautifully said.