In the Midst of Evil Our Only Hope Is Jesus!

This past Friday my heart sank as I learned the news of the shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. As more details came out, my heart began to break because of the many small children whose young lives were taken, not to mention the brave faculty and staff who died protecting their students. Thankfully, due to the faculty and staff’s heroic actions on Friday morning, many children’s lives were spared.

No doubt many today are asking the question, Why? Why would a young man take the life of his mother, the lives of twenty children and six adults. Many will speculate, but no one will ever really know definitively the reasons this young man committed such a deplorable act.

As I reflected on this news I was reminded of another horrific scene that took place over 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, Israel, and its vicinity. King Herod ordered that all boys, two years old and under, were to be killed (Matthew 2:16). Matthew repeats the prophet Jeremiah’s words to describe the scene, “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more” (Matthew 2:18; cf. Jeremiah 31:15). Only those who have lost a child can even begin to imagine the  heartbreak and pain these moms and dads in Bethlehem experienced. Sadly, the moms and dads in Newtown can understand.

Why did King Herod commit such a deplorable act? He had heard that the “king of the Jews” had been born in Bethlehem and he was troubled (Matthew 2:1-3). He feared losing his throne and kingdom. Since King Herod did not know where this “king of the Jews” was, and to ensure that he killed him, he ordered all boys, two years old and under, to be killed. Tragically, no boy two years old and under escaped Herod’s death sentence, that is, except for one (Matthew 2:13-15). That boy’s name was Jesus. Herod’s plan to kill baby Jesus, the “king of the Jews,” had failed. 

King Herod’s actions in Bethlehem and its vicinity, and the lone gunman’s actions in Newtown, are clear reminders of the existence of evil. Evil is real and this past Friday we were reminded just how real it is. Jesus warned us that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10), and right now “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Our only hope is Jesus!

During this Christmas season we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was to rescue men from sin. The angel told the shepherds, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Jesus revealed that He came to earth “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). He died on the cross to save all who would come to Him by faith for salvation (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). Three days later He rose from the dead and today He sits at God’s right hand (1 Corinthians 15:4; Hebrews 10:12). Jesus will return again to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-16). When He comes the second time He will remove the evil one, doing away with evil once and for all (Revelation 20:10). Jesus will also “wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). In fact, Jesus tells us that He will  make “all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Our only hope is Jesus! 

Let’s continue to pray for the families of the Newtown victims, as well as the entire Newtown community. Let’s be faithful to share with others the good news of why Jesus came to earth. Let’s be anticipating Jesus’ return. In the midst of evil, our only hope is Jesus!

Where To Turn In Times of Crisis

Before the days of GPS, while traveling, I would often have to stop and ask for directions. Inevitably, while giving the directions, the person would tell me how far to travel, where to turn and which way to turn. In times of crisis it is important that we know where to turn. During a time of national crisis, Nehemiah turned to God.

Nehemiah turned to God in desperation, “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). When we find ourselves in a crisis, or when our nation is in a crisis, the first place we need to turn is to God in desperation. He’s our only hope!

Nehemiah also turned to God in adoration, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments” (Nehemiah 1:5). As we invest time adoring Him, our focus will shift from the things of this world to the One who holds the world in His hands. As we adore Him we will be reminded that our hope is in the Lord.

Nehemiah also turned to God in intercession, “Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants” (Nehemiah 1:6). For three to fourth months, day and night, Nehemiah interceded on behalf of his people. He asked God to be attentive and hear his prayers. It was during Nehemiah’s time of intercession that God began to reveal His plan for the people of Judah as well as how Nehemiah would be a part of that plan.

Nehemiah also turned to God in confession, “confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses” (Nehemiah 1:6-7). Nehemiah confessed the sins of his people, his own sins and the sins of his family. He confessed their corrupt actions and their disobedience to God’s word.

When we are in a crisis—whether individually or as a nation—we should always follow Nehemiah’s example by turning to God in desperation, in adoration, in intercession, in confession. After all, God and God alone is our only hope!

Responding To A Nation’s Crisis

America is a nation in crisis economically, politically, and morally. All you have to do is look around and you will see that our country is in trouble. In the Bible we read of a country whose people were in “great trouble” (Nehemiah 1:3).

The people of Judah had been taken into Babylonian captivity. In time, Cyrus, king of Persia, overthrew Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem, although not all the exiles returned,and those who did return did not return all at the same time. One of the Jewish exiles, a man named Nehemiah, was the cupbearer to the king. One day Nehemiah’s brother and some other men visited and Nehemiah “asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 1:2). They told Nehemiah that “the remnant…is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire” (Nehemiah 1:3). As soon as Nehemiah heard their report he “sat down and wept and mourned for days,” and he “continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4). Their report was not good. Without walls and gates the city could not defend itself against enemy attacks and the residents were at risk.

After hearing the report, Nehemiah grieved for his people. His heart broke for the situation his people found themselves in. He was so heartbroken and concerned that he wept and mourned for days.

No doubt we all recall the events of 9/11 that left us all feeling vulnerable. We grieved for young children who lost their moms or dads, for spouses who lost their mates, for moms and dads who lost their children, and for other family members. We grieved as a nation for the loss and pain inflicted on so many. Similarly, Nehemiah grieved for the pain and shame his people were experiencing.

Nehemiah also fasted. Fasting is a way for us to draw nearer to God so that we may get to know Him deeper. Nehemiah’s grief led him to fast, to go without food, in order to seek God and discern His will.
Nehemiah also prayed a moving prayer of adoration, confession, and intercession (Nehemiah 1:5-10). In his prayer he acknowledges God’s greatness and faithfulness. Nehemiah also acknowledges and confesses his and his people’s sinfulness, specifically, the way they had acted and their disobedience to God’s word.
Jerusalem was in a crisis and Nehemiah knew that God was their only hope. In the same way, God is America’s only hope. Not a politician, party or even policies. America needs God. Our nation is living in blatant sin before God. Like the people of Judah, we have acted corruptly. Our nation desperately needs to turn from her sin and turn to God. In light of this, as Christians, we can follow Nehemiah’s example:

1. We need to grieve for our nation. Our hearts ought to break over the decisions that our leaders and justices are making and the direction our country is headed. Our hearts ought to break over the blatant sin that is rampant in our society.

2. We can fast before God on behalf of our nation. We can go without some meals and use that time to draw near to God and seek His face. The psalmist Asaph wrote, “In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord…” (Psalm 77:2).

3. We must pray to God for our nation. We need to acknowledge His greatness and faithfulness. We need to confess our sins and the sins of our nation. We need to plead for God’s mercy. We need to pray for our fellow citizens to come to the realization of the truth found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to pray for our leaders. Paul gave this instruction: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1 Timothy 2:1-2). We also need to ask God to raise up godly leaders.

God is the only hope for a nation in crisis. Realizing that, we need to respond to our nation’s crisis as Nehemiah did: grieving, fasting, and praying.