I was sickened yesterday to learn of the senseless shooting and murder of nine individuals who were attending a prayer meeting in Charleston. They were studying the book of Mark, the essence of which can be captured in one verse with the main theme being the focus of Christ’s life: service and sacrifice, : “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.(10:45)
As the prayer group finished its study for the evening, a deranged man full of hate opened fire at close range on them. Children, mothers, grandmothers, men, and pastors were slaughtered with no regard.
Evil has been unchained and is terrorizing our world. Analytical people try to look for an explanation using logic. Evil is not logical. It strikes whomever it can, wherever it can, whenever it can. And those who love the Lord seem to attract evil like bees drawn to a sweet melon.
There is hope and we should not despair. The Gospel of Mark reminds us that Jesus died in the hands of unjust evil men, but His death means we, who have put our trust in Him, can live forever in a paradise devoid of evil. As we await our turn we must live our lives as Christ lived His in service and sacrifice.
Last night I took my wife to the hospital with a high fever. The chemo treatments have killed so many of her white corpuscles that she is in danger of infection because her natural protective system is diminished. The doctors were pondering whether to give her antibiotics because her kidneys might not be able to handle them and we had to sit there for hours awaiting the results of test after test.
As I sat next to her watching her sleep tears formed in my eyes. She has lost her hair and was wearing a little sock cap to cover her head. She was wearing a mask to prevent breathing germs, and her arms were bruised from the many injections she has endured. She appeared angelic as she peacefully slept. I wondered about her suffering and why God would allow it. Why would someone who loves the Lord with all her heart and has such a sweet loving disposition be stricken down?
Then I thought that it really doesn’t matter “why” she is going through this battle; the important thing is that she is saved through the grace of God and one day will walk on streets of gold where there is no suffering, sadness, sorrow, or pain. There will be peace in the valley one day and it will never end.
As we pray for those who lost their lives and all of those who love the Lord around the world and yet suffer like Teresa we must not forget that it is only for a little while. Those who do not know the Lord will suffer but it will never cease unless someone shares the Gospel with them and spends time discipling them. Time is running out. Find someone and share Jesus with them today.
Want to wish all the Dads Happy Father’s day, and go to Honey Lake Church (or somewhere) this Sunday.
1 Peter 1:6
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
June 19, 2015 – Click here to listen