Light in the Darkness

For it to be true that God Provides where Hate Divides, then the inverse must also be true that hate divides where God provides. America, Nevada, and Country Music were victims of hateful division this past weekend during the last day of the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas.

We’re going to hear all sorts of outlandish claims, and some are going to be pretty close. Most of them, though, will be false and fueled by fear or hate or prejudice. Some will celebrate, enjoying the distance afforded by an inability to relate to the victims. Others will angrily call for justice – but they really want vengeance. But those directly affected will need our empathy and prayers regardless of their response.

It’s odd. Just last night I was listening to music as I was driving and the song lamented the loss of humanity. “It’s as if the entire world’s fallen in love with their insanity,” he sang, followed shortly by, “the rabid media plays their roles stoking the flames of war to no surprise, only too eager to sell their souls for the apocalypse must be televised.” The lament shaped the start of this morning’s blog. Vegas’ terror solidified it.

This is the world we live in. But this is not our world.

“I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:16, Berean)

We can’t stop the hate from tearing at our humanity, but we can respond appropriately. Christians first recognize that Romans 8:31 gives us the ultimate ally against the daily barrage of hate. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (NIV) We then must put into practice what we preach. Have patience and let the authorities investigate, determine the cause, and take action. Have compassion for those injured or who lost loved ones, and for those on both sides calling for gun control or celebrating the chaos, they need love the most. And have peace, for if we truly believe God is in control, then how can we not trust Him in the storm?

For God to provide where hate divides, there must be hate. As unfortunate as that reality may be, trust in Jesus’ prayer – keep us from the evil one, because Your word is truth.

Let that truth be your light in today’s darkness.

(Photo courtesy of ABC News, retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/US/50-dead-200-injured-las-vegas-deadliest-shooting/story?id=50223240)