I just learned about the horrific elementary school shooting today, which media reports ended with 27 people dead, 18 of these little children. A legitimate question that comes to mind when we learn of man's inhumanity to man; is - where is God? How can He allow this? How can He stand it? How can He be a good God when we have things like this happening in the world! Is He in control or not?
Many of you may be feeling confused right now, and wondering these same types of things.
Let me first say that my heart goes out to the families affected by the loss of a loved one at the school today, as well as everyone at the school and in this little community of Sandy Hook.
I see God's mercies in this tragedy, and His goodness as well. We are horrified that it happened at all, and doubly so during this most special time of the year: Christmas. Yet, this is WHY Jesus Christ left His throne in heaven and humbled Himself - very God of very God, to be born as a babe that first Christmas day. The Bible tells us that "the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:9)
What more poignant reminder of our desperate need do we require than a tragedy such as this, to point us to earnestly contemplate our Creator?
What does God mean when He says He came to help the lost? What does "lost" mean?
Well, we find the answer in the book of Romans when we read the Holy Script: "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks for God ..." (Romans 3:10,11)
Harsh words. Not what we want to hear. No one likes to hear of their failings and falling short.
However, it is our state of being as we are born into this world, because we are born with a sinful nature; "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
Because of our sinfulness, we are "lost" and are separated from being in a right relationship with our Creator.
If it were not for our Creator's immense, unfathomable and incredible love for us, if it were not for His initiative and action in pursuing us, if it were not for His goodness and mercy and power we would drift along in our lost state all our lives only to eventually die and then perish in eternal separation from our Creator!
Yet our God is a loving God, as well as a Just, Righteous, Holy Judge of wrath.
He came on that first Christmas day to make a way for us to be brought into right relationship with our Creator, our God. He came to give us Hope.
Will we still live in a fallen world filled with lost people who have no light of dawn? Yes.
Will we still have troubles? Yes.
Will we still have pain? Yes.
But we shall also have Hope. Hope for a future together with our Creator, in Paradise, when we die.
And not just hope for then. We shall have day-to-day hope, and healing, and we shall experience His power in our lives and hearts as He illumines us with Truth from His Word.
Jesus Himself said, "You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free." (John 8:32)
"The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken toyou—they are full of the Spirit and life." ~ John 6:63
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." ~ John 10:10
So, where do you want to go from here? - To a Christmas of no real, lasting meaning and power, where all you have is a time of lights, presents, food and drinks and time with family and fun?
Or a Christmas to celebrate a God who loves you enough to come into this world humbly, to ultimately die a horrific death on a bloody cross, to be raised to life in order for you to be able to have a right relationship with Him?
A Christmas like no other, filled with God's sustaining peace, power, and goodness ...
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