Maranatha

As I walked my four year old son through a metal detector at school this morning, I noticed a little girl about his age crying while they searched her bag since she set off the device – this was all new to them.  I tried to answer Ephraim’s questions to ease his mind about this whole new experience, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit uneasy myself as little boys and girls passed through these ominous machines in the name of safety and security.  The teachers and staff were doing their best to calm any newfound fears, and yet there is something inherently wrong with this whole scenario.  We should not live in a world where small children are targets and life is so easily destroyed.

I understand our deep desire to protect these precious gifts – our children, our future.  Especially, since we were confronted last week with the reality that we live in a dark and broken world.  Yet despite all of our best efforts, our greatest fears may be realized, whether by a random act of senseless violence, a rare disease, or a tragic accident that which we value the most in this world can be taken in an instant.  Life is fragile.  Life is uncertain.  Life is precious.

And in the wake of such senseless evil, we spend a great deal of time and energy trying to make some sense of it all.  Investigators are digging through every scrap of evidence they have in an attempt to find a motive – “a reason”.  We all want to know “why”. 

The truth is that we will never make sense of evil – it is by very nature senseless.  Our ancient narrative has named it sin and we know that its wages are death.  Yet we search for some comfort in reason – if we just know “why” then maybe we can cope.  Maybe we can prevent… maybe we’ll feel just a little bit safer sending our kids off to school.  This is our human drive – to understand, to control, to protect.  But in this dark world – we will never fully understand, we cannot completely control, and we haven’t the power to protect in all circumstances.  We can only trust and pray.

On another dark night, as the cross overshadowed Him, Jesus told His disciples: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  We can take comfort in the fact, as Marilyn Denson often reminds me, “It won’t be like this in heaven.”  And we read: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:4-5) 

His is our only peace, comfort, and light in this dark world.  May His light shine on you, in you, and through you this week!  Maranatha!  Come, Lord Jesus!