"This is the first time I have ever been glad that you are in Philadelphia"...that is the text message I received from my brother this morning following the tragedy at Virginia Tech today.
I don't know what to say...if you haven't heard there was a major shooting at Virginia Tech this morning in which, so far, 32 people have been killed making it the worst shooting in US History. I am listening to the news right now and everyone is trying to figure out what happened. How did this happen? How could this have been prevented?
I am sick. I feel sick to my stomach and my heart is crying out for everyone involved. I have many friends still at Tech, and haven't heard from most of them. Travis has even more friends there (most of my friends have already graduated), and thankfully he has been able to talk to many of them.
My mind is racing. How could this happen? What in the world would lead someone to do this? One shooter, 32 killed, many more wounded...the worst mass shooting in US history. Many people will probably be asking "How could God let this happen?". My question, however politically incorrect it may be, is "Why are we surprised?".
I know that we would like to believe that all people are inherently good (isn't that what Anne Frank said?), and that incidents like this are few and far between...but that isn't true. The truth is, we are all created in the image of God, which means that there is good in all of us. But, the devil has reign of this world now and evil has taken some ground. People are shot every day. Women are raped every day. Kids are beaten and molested every day. This DOES happen everyday...in fact, it happens so often that it is impossible to report all of it. And, shocker of all shocks, the US is not the center of the world. Its bad here, its worse in other places. Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Sudan, Somalia...the world is filled with evil.
I don't know what to say...if you haven't heard there was a major shooting at Virginia Tech this morning in which, so far, 32 people have been killed making it the worst shooting in US History. I am listening to the news right now and everyone is trying to figure out what happened. How did this happen? How could this have been prevented?
I am sick. I feel sick to my stomach and my heart is crying out for everyone involved. I have many friends still at Tech, and haven't heard from most of them. Travis has even more friends there (most of my friends have already graduated), and thankfully he has been able to talk to many of them.
My mind is racing. How could this happen? What in the world would lead someone to do this? One shooter, 32 killed, many more wounded...the worst mass shooting in US history. Many people will probably be asking "How could God let this happen?". My question, however politically incorrect it may be, is "Why are we surprised?".
I know that we would like to believe that all people are inherently good (isn't that what Anne Frank said?), and that incidents like this are few and far between...but that isn't true. The truth is, we are all created in the image of God, which means that there is good in all of us. But, the devil has reign of this world now and evil has taken some ground. People are shot every day. Women are raped every day. Kids are beaten and molested every day. This DOES happen everyday...in fact, it happens so often that it is impossible to report all of it. And, shocker of all shocks, the US is not the center of the world. Its bad here, its worse in other places. Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Sudan, Somalia...the world is filled with evil.
As much as I am appalled by what happened, and how difficult it will be for students at Tech to be able to walk to class without fear...my kids walk to school everyday with that fear. There are kids in other countries who walk to school wondering if a car bomb will kill them. This isn't the first, and I I doubt it will be the last.
"The devil led him [Jesus] up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" For now, the devil has dominion and reigns over this world. Jesus has defeated the devil, and we know how the story ends...with good triumphing over evil and with Christ reigning on His throne forever. However, until that day comes, we are in a daily battle with evil. Incidents like this are a sobering reminder that this is true. Sin reigns in this world.
As long as we continue to deny Christ and worship other "gods", the enemy will continue to reign. We will continue to face tragedy like this until the day Jesus returns...until the day that ever knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. The only thing I can look to as this time is the promises that Jesus has made. He is close to the brokenhearted, He promises to fight against the enemy and He has promised victory...and He WILL return to reclaim His throne.
"The devil led him [Jesus] up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" For now, the devil has dominion and reigns over this world. Jesus has defeated the devil, and we know how the story ends...with good triumphing over evil and with Christ reigning on His throne forever. However, until that day comes, we are in a daily battle with evil. Incidents like this are a sobering reminder that this is true. Sin reigns in this world.
As long as we continue to deny Christ and worship other "gods", the enemy will continue to reign. We will continue to face tragedy like this until the day Jesus returns...until the day that ever knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. The only thing I can look to as this time is the promises that Jesus has made. He is close to the brokenhearted, He promises to fight against the enemy and He has promised victory...and He WILL return to reclaim His throne.
Please pray. I am actually going to Virginia Tech this weekend to attend a reunion for Intervarstiy Christian Fellowship. It was a trip I planned weeks ago to spend some time hanging out with old friends. Now, I plan to go and pray...pray for Jesus to reign in that place and for God to do something powerful. Another promise He makes is that "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
1 comment:
Very well written. My prayers go out to the families of the victims and all current and former students of VT.
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