The Shooting that Changed the World

Link: 33 Dead at Virginia Tech

May our hearts and prayers go out to these students who survived and the families of all involved in the great evil that has come upon this college community. Don’t take this event as a time to question why the government or schools or communities don’t do something to stop these things. In the end, they can’t stop them. Instead, pray that God will change the world of Virgina Tech with this event and help people to see the truth of Jesus’ words in Luke 13:1-5…

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

The only reason that any of us can have hope is because Christ has died in our place and taken the punishment and death that we all deserve on account of our wickedness. The reality of these innocent people murdered by a possessed shooter is only in they eyes of humanity. In the eyes of God, there is no one innocent – no, not one. Therefore, we cannot ask, “Why did this happen?,” from the standpoint of innocence.

But the question(s) we should ask is, “What does this mean for me? And how should I respond to the realization that this world is cursed and in need of recreation (i.e. – change)?”

33 people have passed on today into the next state of human existence. Those 33 people’s bodies are going to stay in their graves for the rest of our earthly lives…

Has that hit your mind today? Have you contemplated the reality that you could have been one of those people? How should that change your focus on your work, on your family, on God?

What I know is that one day those 33 people will be resurrected from the dead. But each one will either be resurrected to everlasting life with Jesus in all God’s love or everlasting life in Hell with all God’s hatred.

And like them, all of us will take part in the resurrection of humanity on the Last Day, but on that Day God will separate humanity into two groups – those trusting in Jesus and having repented of their sins and those who disobeyed God and hated Jesus and loved their sins.

Therefore, let all of us who trust in Jesus pray for these students and families affected. Pray that God will bring life to those who continue to live on in the face of this tragedy. Pray that God will strengthen those Christians directly impacted by this evil. And pray that God will continue to teach America that He hates sin and demands the World’s submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Without the realization of sin and death, the love of God in Jesus will never be understood by any of us. The fact that Jesus is the only man to come back from the dead, never to die again, proves that God has appointed him Lord of the world and has subjected all things under His feet - until all His enemies have been destroyed (the last one being Death, itself).

As the world is changed this day by the decrees of God, which have been made known to us, do not lose heart but rejoice in the hope of a new Earth to be inherited by all God’s faithful children… a new Earth where righteousness dwells and their is no more pain or suffering and all tears have been wiped away and all fear has been cast out.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,