I guess this blog is an obvious one. I'm actually about 8 days late in writing this seeing as the mass killings that took place on the campus of Virgina Tech University happened on the morning of April 16th. After writing about the murder of the Amish girls 6 months ago, I wasn't sure I wanted to go down this road again. Frankly, I'm sad that I live in a time where one could go down this road many times . If it wasn't this incident, perhaps I could write about the genocide still going on in Africa. Maybe I could write about the mind-numbing car bombings taking place in Iraq. There is always plenty of local violence to write about. I'm sure somewhere in Kansas there was a killing, beating or a rape in the last 24 hours. If I focused nationally I would have about 500 murders to choose from so there's no shortage there. When you read through the daily headlines of our world, it can simply be too depressing for words.
The point is, 32 people (not counting the cowards death) died in a terrifying 3 hour period on April 16th. It made world news because of the seemingly senselessness of it; it just seemed to come from nowhere. But did it really? Did it really come from nowhere? Trust me, that act of evil had roots.... deep ones. That sad, little man didn't just wake up and say, 'let's go kill everyone today'. No, this action had been boiling up for quite some time. But to be honest with you, I'm in no mood to break down the act into religious, psychological or sociological pie charts. I don't really care to figure out why this man decided to kill innocent lives. Why? Because the answer is just too simple that it's scary. Evil exists and it exists so that you might be destroyed. Simple enough?
Death isn't unusual. Murder isn't unusual. Yet, we are so shocked and saddened when these types of events take place. And we are scared. Haven't we conditioned ourselves and our kids to treat death like hitting the 'x' button on the Play Station? What it seems we can't handle is the kind of murderous rampage that could easily involve us. What if your son or daughter were in that building that day? What if someone you knew or you were in the Trade Center Towers over 5 years ago? What if you took a wrong turn down a dark street and were never heard from again? It's all about fear. We fear things we don't understand. Shouldn't we understand evil by now? Of course to understand it you have to admit it's real and maybe that's where we are dropping the ball in society.
There I am doing what I said I didn't want to do. I don't want to seek answers. I want to seek comfort. I want to seek strength. I want to seek protection.
Riding in the van the other night a song came on and reminded me of some things. The song only lasts less than a minute and a half, but it was so powerful to me as I looked up into a massive, clear, star-lit sky. It was a reminder to me of how I should feel in times such as these. It's a song that is not only a prayer, but a battle cry. We look into the eyes of evil everyday; you may not know it, but it's there. We need something to hold on to. We need a shelter in which to run. So, do this.... turn your speakers up or put your headphones on and crank your computers volume. Don't worry about who's around and play this song. As it plays, close your eyes and see every bad thing in your life and in this world. Why? Because none of it is bigger than God.
http://www.kstarheel.com/godismyrock.html
Truth is folks the world isn't getting less violent. The chances of you or a loved one coming face-to-face with someone wanting to end your life is only going up. But we aren't to fear what seems so frightening. We stand up. We walk humbly. We take shelter in our God. We must remember that Jesus didn't die so that bad things wouldn't happen. He died to conquer the ultimate 'bad thing': death. His love has driven fear to it's knees. No, it's killed it. It is in that hope, that I hope. In that comfort that I find some peace. I pray for my family. I pray for yours. Don't lose hope and don't let fear blind you from the truth.
Psalm 18
1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
Revelation 1:17
17-20"Don't fear: I am First, I am Last, I'm Alive. I died, but I came to life, and my life is now forever. See these keys in my hand? They open and lock Death's doors, they open and lock Hell's gates. "
John 16:31
Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."
