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!

Distractions Can Kill

I love bicycling. I am blessed to live just outside the hustle and bustle of city life so I get to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation as I ride. Another blessing to living just outside the city is that traffic is minimal. This way there are at least fewer drivers to be concerned with while on my ride (that is certainly something to be thankful for these days). Every bicyclist knows that when riding it is important to stay alert to your surroundings, especially to oncoming traffic. After all, one wrong move could be disastrous. And of course, living outside the city you also have to be aware of the dogs who run loose, as well as the occasional cow that escapes (after all, I’d certainly not want to have a cowlision!).

There are so many areas of life in which we must stay alert and avoid distractions. For example, drivers must avoid texting while driving to avoid a deadly accident. Surgeons must get plenty of rest before beginning a day of surgeries so that they are totally alert in the operating room. Students must deliberately concentrate on what their teacher is saying so they can learn the material and be ready for the upcoming exam. Did you know that Christians must stay on the alert too. Why? Because our enemy “prows around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). No doubt, staying alert in the Christian life is a very serious matter.

There once was a king who was cautioned to remain alert and yet he allowed distractions (in this case, women; and I mean, lots of women) to impair his alertness and before he knew it he was devoured by the enemy. His name? Solomon. Now, King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived (1 King 4:31; 10:23-24) and yet he did not remain alert. He knew the right thing to do. After all, God had clearly warned him not to associate with the people of other nations—which would include not marrying them (1 Kings 11:1-3). But King Solomon did not listen. The end result? “His wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God…So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” (1 Kings 11:4, 6). Solomon became so distracted by these women that he not only worshipped their false gods but he went as far as to build places of worship for these false gods. God became angry with Solomon. Solomon later died and the kingdom, with the exception of one tribe, was taken away from his son. A sad ending to what began as a very promising life. Why? Because King Solomon became distracted and pursued evil rather than God’s best.

What’s distracting you today? What is the devil using in your life to distract you from pursuing God’s best? Remember, the devil is your adversary who wants nothing more than to devour you. That is why Peter gives this admonition to believers: “Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:9). Don’t fight the temptation because, like Solomon, you will not win. We resist the devil by fleeing! Paul instructed believers to flee evil and pursue righteousness (see 1 Corinthians 6:18; 10:14; 1 Timothy 6:11ff and 2 Timothy 2:22). So, flee anything the devil  might use in your life that would distract you from God’s best for your life. After all, some distractions can kill!