Before I go any further let me make one thing clear, in no way am I trying to diminish this tragedy in things I am writing. I'm looking at the broken world for what it is and finding the "Why did this happen?"
This is a broken world and has been since the beginning. "What is this world coming to?" It has always been this way.
In this horrific event, going forward,"where do I find hope?" I find it in the word of God.
God has a special place in his heart for children. he expresses this in Matthew 18:3-6:
3Then he said, “I
tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like
little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
5“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6But
if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into
sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around
your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
A serious warning to those who cause a little one to fall away from Christ. I cannot imagine what happens to those who murder a child. Jesus speaks again about children in Matthew 19:14, where he says we have to become like children, for Heaven is theirs:
14But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
Here is some peace for me to know those massacred innocent children , are in the arms of a loving God.
The story of Jesus' birth begins with death of innocence.
16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.
17 Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A cry was heard in Ramah—
weeping and great mourning.
Rachel weeps for her children,
refusing to be comforted,
for they are dead.”
weeping and great mourning.
Rachel weeps for her children,
refusing to be comforted,
for they are dead.”
God, in his perfect love, sends his only son Jesus in order that we may be saved from damnation. The worlds response is the killing of all two year old boys in Bethlehem. Jesus goes on to be put willingly death at the hand of His chosen people and the authorities of Rome. Yet, even in everything for which is evil, ultimately God's glory is served. Through his grace, despite all that we have done, Jesus becomes the propitiation for mans transgressions.
"Lord I still cannot see why you would allow such things to happen!," we ask. Proverbs 3:5-8 says:
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
7Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
Clearly we are not supposed to understand everything, we are to have faith that God knows what he is doing.
Please stop for a moment a read the following in its entirety: Job 38 & 39.
God calls Job out on the carpet! I love Jobs response in Job 40:3-5:
3Then Job replied to the Lord,
4“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
I will cover my mouth with my hand.
5I have said too much already.
I have nothing more to say.”
Where do I find hope in the future of this evil world? Upon the return of Christ and in Revelation 21:4:
4He
will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death
or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
In the end, Gods plan is good, and if things are not good, then it's not the end. I know at end of the story, evil is no more. What keeps me from being discouraged? Knowing in what Jesus did for me on the cross, despite myself, Love wins. What comfort I find in this.
