I was scrolling through the news the other morning, and was surprised, and heartbroken, and a little scared, by story after story of someone shooting someone else.
In a massage store.
In a grocery store.
In an office complex.
I go to 2 of these 3 places as part of my normal weekly (sometimes daily) routine. Sometimes I take my kids with me, and in the stories above, kids were casualties too.
The thought that I could be getting pasta and fruity pebbles and come face to face with a mass murderer was unnerving. Is nowhere safe anymore?
I think I got used to it, before COVID hit, when people were shot at concerts and churches and blown up while running marathons. It was shocking, but it was everywhere. You couldn’t go a month without news that someone had killed a bunch of people somewhere. It wasn’t happening in my town and it wasn’t happening to me, and I saw so many stories that looked the same, that I quit reading them.
Then COVID, and lockdowns, and there were no more incidents being reported. I’m not sure if they weren’t happening or if we were just worried about something more urgent.
Now, people have vaccines, and lives are going back to normal. The evil was still there, just sequestered at home. Now, people are out in public again, and shootings are being reported, again.
So, on Good Friday morning, when I opened my phone and started reading, my heart broke. I imagined what God must see when he looks down on us. The depravity, the wickedness, the SIN that runs rampant here. I wondered how bad we were compared to Sodom and Gomorrah, of Tyre and Sidon, or the people in Noah’s day or Elijah’s day.
Lord – are we worse? How do you even look down on this? We are so full of sin.
Yet – this is Good Friday, when we pause to remember that You died for this.
You died for the murderers, the thieves, the rapists and abortionists, the preacher who touched a bunch of kids, and the run of the mill prideful sinner, people who think they’ve done nothing wrong, the one who clings to perfectionism to get to heaven, and the mom who yelled at her kids all day yesterday (me).
WHY? How could You look down on us and see us in this state of shambles and love us enough to sacrifice Your son for us?
Because I made you, in my image. And I am Love.
Sin has perverted what I had planned, and make no mistake, I am a God of JUSTICE. Vengeance is mine, I will repay. [Romans 12:17-19]
So – what do I do with this Lord? How do I go outside every day knowing that my kids and I could be murdered while we get groceries?
Keep short accounts with Me. [Romans 14:11-12]
Do not fear, because I go with you and before you. What can man do to me? [Psalm 118:6]
I was young, but now I am old, and I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread. [Psalm 37:25]
How do we go out and show your love to other people all the time, knowing that it could cost us our lives to be that exposed and involved?
To live is Christ, to die is gain. [Philippians 1:21]
I’ve called you to love. To love others as yourself. To protect others as you protect yourself. To meet needs for others like you meet needs for yourself. This life isn’t easy, but I never promised that. I promised I would go with you. I sent my Son to show you how to pour your life out for the ugly, the sinners, the poor, and the lost. I will ALWAYS go after the one, even if it means leaving the 99. [Luke 15:1-7] I’m calling you to do the same. Wherever you see the marginalized, that is where you need to go. When you feel me nudge, you start walking.
One step of faith at a time. That’s how you run this race, that’s how you fight the good fight, keep the faith, and finish the race. [2 Timothy 4:7]
One small step of obedience at a time.
I will go with you.
Thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob.
He who formed you, O Israel.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have summoned you by name, you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters
I will be with you
And through the rivers
They will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
You will not be burned
The flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, Your Redeemer.
I gave Egypt for your ransom
Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
And because I love you
I will give people in exchange for you,
Nations in exchange for your life. [Isaiah 41:1-5]