It seems as though it is now impossible to turn on our TVs or log on to the Internet without hearing/reading of another mass shooting or terror attack. News commentators and political pundits on both sides of the aisle sound off afterwards with their opinions of both causes and cures of these problems. But every time I hear about a situation like this, my mind goes in a bit of a different direction:
1) IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY
God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden of Eden. After they disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were banished from the garden. As they continued their lives they soon had two sons - Cain, their firstborn, and his brother Abel. The Bible goes on to say that in time Cain eventually murdered his brother. The lesson in that story cannot escape us:
The very first human being born of woman into this world was a murderer, and human beings have been harming each other ever since.
I know that our world is filled with anger, rage, hatred, and violence. My point is simply that it has been since the fall of man. In Genesis 1 God created the heaven and the earth; by Genesis 6 He's telling Noah that He's going to send a flood and destroy mankind because He saw that "the land was filled with violence." What we're seeing on the news today is not a new thing; sin has caused mankind to do immeasurable damage to itself from the very beginning.
2) WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIX THIS OURSELVES
With every mass shooting or terror attack there are calls for everything from gun control to all-out war. I know that what I'm about to say may be disagreed with by some, but neither will work. Why do I say that? Because human laws cannot change sinful hearts, and because Jesus Himself told us that in the last days there would be "wars and rumors of wars." (Matthew 24:6) The apostle Paul also told us in II Timothy 3:13 that in the last days "evil men would wax worse and worse."
So what do we do?
*Surrender our lives to Christ completely, and allow the Holy Ghost to work in our lives and make us the men and women of God that He wants us to be.
"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
*Pray for revival. We can't change people, but a genuine move of the Holy Ghost in this world can.
"If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn on their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (II Chronicles 7:14)
*BE revival in our world. Simply put, our desire should be to allow God to continually work in our lives, and then let the changes He brings about be evident in the lives of others.
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."(Matthew 5:14-16)
I must conclude this by saying that I also believe that there will be no true, lasting peace on earth until the Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ) returns. With that thought in mind, I think the best way to end this is with the same words that the Bible ends with in Revelation 22:20-21:
"Even so, come Lord Jesus. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you all."
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