Like you, I awoke Monday morning to the news out of Las Vegas. You know the details, nearly 60 dead and more than 500 hundred injured when a 64-year-old gunman opened fire on a crowd of concert goers. We weep with those who weep.
Predictably, some will make the tragedy political. Others will address psychological concerns. A few will draw outrageous conclusions that should be immediately dismissed for what they are.
As Christians, we recognize the base problem here is the depravity of man. While shocked by what happened, is any of us really surprised that a human being is capable of such an act? Page after page of human history tell the stories of how cruel one human being can be to another.
How it must cause our creator to sorrow at what his creation does to each other. He didn’t create us for this. The intent in the beginning was a planet populated with beautiful, image-bearing creatures who loved their creator and loved each other. The brokenness of the creation is most evident in the creation’s hate for its creator and its evil directed toward other image-bearers.
In response to the attack, famous people and everyday nobodies say, tweet, or post a similar phrase, “This must stop!” I can agree with that, and it is what I pray for. But I know how this story plays out. There won’t be a full stop until King Jesus sets up his throne. Then he will bring peace to the nations and to every individual heart. There will be no more mass shootings; no truck bombs on Paris or London streets; no IEDs in Boston or Madrid; no stabbings in Manilla; no beheadings on the African continent; and no shootings in the streets of Chicago. Jesus will end this.
We can respond like any human being with a conscience, but as Christians we can respond beyond what any person can respond. In the midst of our sorrow for those ravaged by a devilish human being, we offer any aid we can. As Christians, we do more; we pray and labor in the gospel. We pray for our Lord’s soon return (Rev. 22:20), and we work to make ready all around us for his return (1 Thess. 5:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 16:15). This is how we Christians respond.
May God’s grace be with the men and women, boys and girls impacted by the harm in Las Vegas.
As always I welcome your feedback and any suggestions you might have for an upcoming Lunchtime Musing.