By Pastor Bob DeKlavon
I am thinking about all that is going on around us and it makes me sad.
Obviously, the senseless death of anyone should make us mad.
Then, protest turned mayhem should make us mad again.
Add to this the lockdown we are under without constant contact and…well…I am sad.
Churches have not met and people have suffered and it is, as a friend says: “a hot mess.”
Much of my emotion goes toward the evil that just seems palpable.
Satan is alive and well and running rampant in the homes and streets of America.
With family deterioration has come chaos in structure.
With political machinations from all sides has come a lack of respect.
With the message of the cross lost to so many—there are so many without hope.
Granted—this is absolutely nothing new.
From the very first pair of people—there has been disorder.
From the very first brothers—there has been violence.
From the nation chosen by God—there was grumbling and chaos.
Nothing has changed…. nor, will it…apart from the Spirit of God.
I have thought a great deal recently about the working of the Spirit.
Obviously—99% of that work concerned reconciliation with God.
But…God’s design then was drawing people together by that same power.
Today, we have divisions between black and white.
In the days of Jesus—it was between Jews and Gentiles.
Jesus broke down the walls so we could all be one at the cross.
Every person worshiping the same Lord; chosen by Him to be a part of one family.
Jesus calls His children to look at the heart-not the skin-of those called by Him.
Jesus calls us to look at the heart-not the heritage-of those called by Him.
A heart changed by Jesus “should” recognize His work in others.
I kept coming back to an almost obscure passage in Luke 13.
Some people talk to Jesus about some Galileans whom Pilate had killed.
Jesus asks: ‘do you think they were greater sinners because they suffered this fate?’
His reply is: ‘unless you repent—you will also perish too.’
Every single person on earth is lost without the Savior.
And, without Jesus comes suffering unlike anything we see on earth.
That, my friends, is the saddest news of all.
My prayer is that God’s children will live out the good news of the gospel in a hopeless world.
As He transforms our hearts—I pray that God’s children will help transform our world.
And…………..that He will turn our mourning into dancing.