As the world knows by now, our nation has suffered yet
another tragic shooting at an elementary school. And the world is looking for answers. We have
questions. Why did this happen? What
type of person does something like this?
Could anything have been done to prevent it from happening? Can we do anything to prevent it from
happening again? Where is God? Why does God let stuff like this happen? The questions just keep on coming…..
We try to find answers.
We turn to school officials. We
turn to the police and other law enforcement officials. We turn to gun
laws. We turn to psychologist. We turn to anyone and everyone who might have
an answer. To most people the questions
and the answers are difficult to deal with and understand. I am not sure that I have a firm grasp of
the answers and I’m sure that I don’t even know all the questions, but let me
give it my best effort.
Over the past four decades there has been an organized
effort in our culture to eliminate God from the fabric of our nation. When I was a child I can remember having a
morning prayer everyday in our Public School.
We had prayers before PTA meetings and before school assemblies and
sporting events. Prayers were led by
students, teachers and administrators.
Ministers, Pastors and Rabbis were invited into our schools on a regular
basis to talk with students or present a message from God’s word. Christmas was Christmas and the Christ story
was central to any play or concert. It
was a different time.
Now God is all but gone from our schools. He is all but gone from our courthouses, city
halls, State and Federal buildings. God
is made fun of in our entertainment.
Those who believe in God are mocked and pushed aside as a radical.
During this 40 year span of time as we have slowly pushed
God out of our culture we have also devalued life. The majority of our nation does not think
twice about killing an unborn child. More
and more of our society believes it is a good idea to euthanize anyone who may
no longer have “quality” of life.
In short, God has been evicted from our hearts and our
homes.
But when tragedy strikes the people call out the name of God
and the name of Jesus and we as a nation want God to “fix” everything and
everyone. We have the nerve to ask God
where he was during all of this and why in His name do you let this
happen. My friends, God does not dwell
in hearts or homes where he is not welcome.
No one wants to live near a Fire House, but everyone wants the Fireman
to come quickly when there is a fire.
Darkness is the absence of light. The Light of the World has been asked to
leave our schools, leave our communities, and leave our states and our nation’s
capital. Well, the Light is gone and
nothing remains, but darkness and evil lurks at every corner. Evil is seeking a way into our schools, communities,
state houses and capital buildings. Evil
only has one objective and that is death.
Evil is the answer to the question, “Why did this happen?” Jesus is the answer to the question, “what
can we do about it?” In a world of
darkness there is only one answer – Light!
Jesus is the Light of the World.
I suggest we let him back into our culture. It will take some time to turn the light on,
but it can be done. It must be
done. One heart, one home and one
community at a time.
So to the Nation I say,
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and
grace.” - Helen H. Lemmel
Love God. Go Love
Others.
