How do we respond to the horrors of a shooting like the
Vegas shooting? Do we have compassion
and care for those injured and the families in grief? Do we spiritualize this event as a warning of
the evil to come when a nation turns from God and opens its doors to evil? Does not Vegas advertise as sin city and
“what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”?
Well this is not staying in Vegas this is the worst mass murder in the
history of America!
Jesus’ response to pain and suffering was compassion and
provision. He demonstrated that God
cares for those who suffer. Well then
why did He let this happen? Is there
another story perhaps that a nation that does not revere God invites evil and
perpetuates it? Could it be that the
Kingdom of God, the love of Jesus comes through faith and without faith evil
reigns?
Stephen Paddock did not seem to be allied with a religious
group, a political philosophy, or have a history of mental illness. He did have a father that was a criminal and
self-absorbed in his criminal pathology.
Stephen was a wealthy professional who was accomplished from the stories
we heard. So what if he had become a
Christian and confessed the sins of his father and been aware of the spiritual
warfare behind the scenes that bind people to evil and its purposes, would this
story be different? Scripture says that
the devil blinds the eyes of the unbelieving. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) Could there be spiritual answers to very real
problems that we see and experience in this life?
When we secularize
our view of the world we deny spiritual realities. Everyone has a grid for defining problems and
answers that go with their definitions.
For example some may say the problem here was liberal gun laws and the
solution more restriction. For others if
the first report of radical Muslims claiming credit would have been true or
real would have felt this was the problem and stricter immigration laws the
solution. We look through our own lenses
and define problems, but spiritual things are unseen.
In the book of Ezekiel there is a warning that evil will
come and destroy when people turn from God and that those called to be
prophetic are required to warn that something bad is coming. (Ezekiel
34:1-9) The warning is stern and it is a
call to turn back to God and repent, but it also communicates that God does not
want people to suffer. However they will
if they do not turn to Him and someone has to warn them.
Jesus calls disaster birth pains. They are to warn us of coming disaster and
draw us to the One who loves us. They
hurt and get our attention. Jesus wept
over death and the consequences of a nation that had abandoned its God. When evil reigns lots of good people are hurt
because the evil one takes pleasure in bringing destruction and stealing
people’s lives. (John 10:10) He as evil
incarnate invites people to do his will and as we can see it is done.
We need healing, compassion, and a revival. Please work and pray for peace in our nation!
