Terrorism
Workplace violence
Racism
All have fueled mass shootings in our country this year. In fact, 3 days ago, before San Bernardino, Christopher Ingraham wrote this “There have been 334 days and 351 mass shootings so far this year.”
Some people will tell you that the solution is in legislation. Some people will tell you the solution is arming civilians. Some people will tell you to stock up on can goods, gas masks and build your underground bunker.
I don’t know much about any of that, but with those statistics up there I do want you to be prepared for terror when it strikes your world.
Luke 13:1-5 (MSG) says:
About that time some people came up and told him about the Galileans Pilate had killed while they were at worship, mixing their blood with the blood of the sacrifices on the altar. Jesus responded, “Do you think those murdered Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die. And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die.”
Jesus said:
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (ESV)
I want us to see
Terror is nothing new.
I hear a lot of lamenting about how far our world has fallen. The truth is that this world fell a long, long time ago. Domestic violence took the first victim’s life in Genesis. Jesus addresses government sanctioned killings and mass death in his lifetime.
The truth is we can’t stop it. The fallen world is out of our control.
Only God can stop it.
Death reigns still. But Jesus is in the process of redeeming and ultimately restoring peace.
For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Rom. 5:17
Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. Acts 3:21
Be ready
I’m not a huge fan of scare tactics in the religious world, but the truth is scary things are happening around us. Innocent people go to work, go to school and go to bible study and get shot to death. That’s scary.
I’m not going to tell you to get a gun, wear a bullet proof vest or become a hermit. I’m going to tell you what Jesus told people who were fearful just like you, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
Today is the day. Get ready. Repent.
