Dear Friends,
Like many of you, I woke up this past Sunday morning and began to receive vague reports of a deadly shooting in Orlando. By the time worship began at Cornerstone, there were few details known and the elders decided it best not to mention in worship since we knew so little. By the time I got home from Sunday services, I learned, like many of you, the horrific news that upwards of 50 people lost their lives.Fifty! 50! That is a hard number to fathom when it comes to death. Many of us may not even encounter 50 total people in a given day. Yet that was the number of this tragedy.As the news rolled in, I read. I prayed. I grieved. I thought to myself, "What kind of world are my children going to grow up in?" I also thought, "Is it always going to be this bad?"The truth is, yes. It is always going to be bad. We live in a fallen, sinful world. Moreover, we should remember that there is another world that exists side-by-side with our world. That world is called by the Apostle Paul a spiritual world where the demonic forces of evil are at work. The shooting in Orlando seems to be the work of the demonic. I'm not sure how else to explain it.As I have prayed, grieved and thought about this horrific tragedy, I have also searched my own heart and I have thought about the church and our country. Personally, I'm ashamed of myself. I have become desensitized by these horrific acts. They seem to be so common now - a Christmas party, a church, a rock concert, an elementary school and now the tragedy in Orlando.I have seen the reactions of people online. There is righteous indignation all around. But the thing that struck me the most is the fact that these types of incidents happen all over the world, every day single day in other nations, and I do not weep. I do not seem to care. I do not let it bother me that much. Why?Why do I think America should be better than this? Why do I think this should not happen in my country? Why do I not weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn in Baghdad? In Dalori in northeastern Nigeria? In Sudan? In Afghanistan?I've thought about this for our nation as well. We don't seem to care about what's going on with the rest of the world. It is only important when it hits America. The truth is there is evil in our world, there are "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" and there is evil in our own hearts. If you do not believe this, then you are not paying attention. The Scriptures are clear on this. (See Ephesians 2:1-3).So what is the remedy? How will this hate, death, violence, bigotry and confusion be overcome? There is only one way. There has always been only one way. The Gospel!Jesus once stated, and this truth is still truth today, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24 ESV) Elsewhere the Word of Truth proclaims this "only way": “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 ESV) So how do we respond? How can we do battle with these enemies? Thus saith the Lord:
- “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21 ESV)
- “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4 ESV)
- “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:9–18 ESV)
Why do we respond? Thus saith the Lord: “For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10 ESV)By His grace and to His praise,Wilson |
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