As I watched the footage of the horrific shooting in Las Vegas, my heart ripped a little further. Senseless. I can’t understand the hate that would fill a mind and heart so completely that they would shoot into a crowd of happy, oblivious people. Not just one shot, not two, but over and over and over again.
My chest aches and my throat swells as I relive the terror captured on screen.
No sooner had I posted my condolences and prayers then I saw it. Wave after wave of posts along these lines…
“It’s Sin City. Sin always exacts a price.”
“This is what happens when we take God from our land.”
On and on they went. My grief soon turned to anger. Why? Because such sentiments indirectly assign the blame to God instead of where it belongs…in the hands of a cowardly murderer.
Satan is the great accuser. Not only does he accuse us before God, but he accuses God before us. We are the reason for the hate and violence in this world. We are the reason cancer and war and disease exists. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey, they flung the human race onto a collision course of chaos and destruction. And where chaos reigns, it’s hard to distinguish the still, small voice of Truth amid the screams of panic.
Jesus loved you, loved me so much He willingly let Himself be stripped, whipped, beaten and crucified to die for the very sins we wallow in. He died for you and me. He died for those who attended the concert. He died for Jason Aldean. He died for the shooter. He paid the price for any who are willing to come to Him. Such love is incomprehensible.
We have had murderers from the beginning. (All the way back to Cain, in fact.) To lay the demonic, evil actions of a psychopath at the nail-scarred feet of the Savior must grieve His heart. I know it shreds mine.
In the face of tragedy, a plethora of thoughts and comments will abound. Things like, “This is terrible, but good will come from this.” Sometimes that’s true, although we often wonder what kind of good can possibly be birthed from something so crushing, something so horribly evil. A wise pastor at Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro challenged us yesterday.
“Perhaps, instead of looking for the good when tragedy strikes, we should focus on looking for God.”
Those are words to cling to. Search for God. As we do that, our attitudes will change. The same heart that climbed on that cross to give His life for a world of uncaring people will shape our hearts to be like His. Bitterness and vengeance will dissipate. Peace will replace chaos. Hope will replace anger. Love will replace hate.
Don’t look for the good that might come. Look for God.
Tara, this is a powerful post. When I read (here) what people were commenting about the shooting, it made me angry too. As someone who lived in Las Vegas for 8 years, I know the many different facets of the city, including a vibrant Christian community.
You’re right in saying we need to set our eyes on God during tragedy, rather than blaming and judging. But for the grace of God . . . we are no different from those who don’t yet know Him.
Thank you for your words here.
I’m praying for you and all those impacted. Blessings and hugs, my friend. You are so right! But for the grace of God…
You are loved.
AMEN!!!