An incomprehensible tragedy.
A targeted attack against a Christian school. Six precious lives lost. Three innocent children. Three courageous adults. Six families and a whole community dealing with heart-breaking grief and distress.
A mentally unstable woman who thought she was a man, who fell for the wicked lies of this world, and held such hatred within her heart to commit such a crime, is conveniently overlooked. She’s really nothing more than a pawn for a political agenda.
Her gun carries the blame, the greatest concern, the focus of headlines. Barely coming in ahead of the blame laid at the feet of the victims themselves… simply for being Christians and living by a Biblical moral code.
And now our greatest physical protection against such attacks is being heavily threatened.
Also in the news, we have a former president indicted who, whether personally conservative or not, stood in the gap for conservatives. A former president who, like him or not, did what he promised and actually stood for moral ideals, far more than his predecessor or successor. A former president who made decisions in office that ultimately led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and saved countless lives. A former president who is charged with far less than the crimes currently being shamelessly committed with no accountability by our current administration.
It’s not about whether or not you’re a Trump supporter, he’s just one example of the biased accountability in our government. We’re seeing FBI raids, unlawful arrests, and biased attacks on conservatives like never before and it’s deeply.
The events of these last few days are just the tip of the ice burg of the dangers lurking beneath these stormy waters.
It’s easy to feel hopeless, powerless, and at a loss.
So, what do we do? How do we react as Christians living in a world that clearly hates what we stand for and the God we serve?
Repent And Pray
I think we need to remember that we live in a fallen world and are fallen in it. Our country has spiraled into chaos as it has turned it’s back on God. And the American church, as a whole, is only now waking up to the part our complacency has played in it.
We need to weep, to mourn, to repent and pray for repentance for this country.
Don’t ask God to bless a country that is acting in rebellion toward him. Rather ask God to save our country, to bring it to it’s spiritual knees in repentance.
Don’t Back Down
We cannot live in fear or defeat.
We must continue to speak truth in love, to fight for justice, to stand for what’s right and good. We are created as image bearers of God, and in courage we must continue to live for His glory and the good of our neighbor at all cost.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Dwell On God’s Promises
“This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD, ever ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.” (Lam 3)
In the darkest night we must trust that: “Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
When injustice seems to win the day we must remember: “The LORD is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
When the days ahead seem frightening and uncertain, must keep looking forward, reaching for what’s ahead, a day when “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore…” (Rev 21:4)
Remember Where Our Hope Lies
Our ultimate hope does not lie in the acceptance and allowance of Christians in American culture.
Our hope does not lie in the protection of our guns or our very lives.
Our hope should not rest in Donald Trump or any one man who runs on conservative values.
Our hope does not lie in a country that embraces conservative ideals over liberal ones.
We can fight for all these things. We can ask God to grant these things. And we should! But these are not the Christians hope, or reasons to be content, or cause for rejoicing.
God’s promises are not fulfilled in a world redeeming itself.
God’s promises are fulfilled in a world redeemed by Christ.
“For all the promises of God find their YES in Him.”
Weep, mourn, grieve, speak truth in love at any and every cost. But we have to be so careful not to simultaneously put our hope in a fallen world.
If we are feeling hopeless and helpless, it’s a sure sign that that’s just what we’ve done.
Dear friends, let’s place our hope in Christ. Let’s share our hope in Christ.
Because in the darkest of times, He is our comfort, He is still King, He is still reigning, and this world is not our home.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33
My Family Freedom 