A couple of days ago, in Texas, parents dropped their kids off at school or watched their kids get on a school bus and didn’t realize it would be the last time they would see them breathing. I’d like to say there is no way you can hear about it or you can watch it on the news and not be heartbroken. But the hard truth is there are evil people in the world. And someone somewhere is not heartbroken. I can’t imagine it, you probably can’t imagine it but the cold, sobering truth is that is true. Why do I point that out you may ask? Because it’s that very evil that caused those children and those teachers to not get to go home that day. It’s that very evil that is alive and well in the world. And it’s that very evil we must be aware of. As our friend Peter says:
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
I keep hearing and seeing, we must do something and yes, I do totally agree. Our schools need to be more secure, where a madman can’t just walk in with a gun. We need to be able to go to school, or the grocery store, or the movie or get on a plane and feel safe. But we also have to realize that evil people have been around since Cain killed Abel. People with their own agendas, people with their own warped minds, people with no thought but their own selfish gain. And as long as there are people who are criminals, there will be criminal acts against innocent people. I know that those are not very comforting words but I also know in my own simple minded way, that those are true words.
But what we can do is lean in a little closer to Jesus today. We can know that as long as there are people walking around on this earth and until the day of Jesus’ return that there will be evil amongst us because that adversary is amongst us too. But we can also know and keep deep in our heart who wins the war in the end. That lying lizard may have won a battle in Texas the other day, but we know that Jesus wins the war and because of that we can place our hope in him. We grieve those children, and those teachers in Texas, but we do not grieve as those who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13) We continue to pray that God will help us and our loved ones to be safe against the adversary and the evil people in the world. And we pray for the parents and families who didn’t have someone come home from school. I can’t even imagine. And we also pray for the loners in schools and that we would be more aware of them and befriend them before their mind gives way to evil. We pray for safety and we pray for peace. And we keep our eyes fixed on the one who can give us peace.
There is an old hymn that will sometimes play over and over in my mind when my heart is broken over something or when I don’t have a direction. It’s the answer to everything that my heart needs, especially when I don’t know what my heart needs.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace!
Restore 