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Believe it or not I had two editorials written for October's newsletter. I kept going back and forth in my mind as to which to use this month. That was until yesterday, when like many of you, I was paralyzed by the events that unfolded before all of us through various media forums. All to often such atrocities take place overseas, unbeknownst to us. Yesterday things hit home in a big way. As my children watched with me the horror of what was unfolding, I scrambled for words to explain. I explained that "someone with hate in their hearts wanted to hurt others". That seemed to be ok until my son said that he wanted Jesus to help those people and "make them new again". What a wonderful opportunity it was to talk of God's return to our chaotic earth to rescue us from Satan's playground. To escape this world of hate to a heaven where only love would abound. It seems unrealistic at times for adults to have such idealistic thoughts but for children, whose innocence protects them from all the details that muddle or manipulate our thinking, the thought of Heaven is a realistic and understandably wonderful thought. How I know it must grieve many of us to see our children experience tragic events, but we must "grow up" and be a pillar of strength for their vulnerable minds. As Christians we should feel at peace with all these events unfolding. Who should feel any freer than an American Christian. We've had such a tremendous life here in America as Christians. We mustn't fold. We must stand strong, we need to believe that God's in charge and that He has overcome the world. Why should we fear? Jesus even told His followers before returning to heaven, "In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world." (John 16:33). What a pep talk! As I write this, I too feel a human fear as the rest of you may but I keep reminding myself that such fear will only impede my quest for a strong faith and a true peace. It has all but been established by our government that a man named Osama Bin Laden is responsible for an entire network of terrorist cells, that in the name of their "Allah" find it necessary to destroy the "evil ones" (Americans). It's a community of people that have perverted the Muslim religion maybe to fit their own personal vendettas. One knows not why such a hatred poisons their mind. It has united many in a struggle for liberty that we have so long been blessed with. What a joyous day on earth it would be to once again experience the freedom we experienced prior to this event. We have to wonder whether we will lose that freedom without a fight or be sickened by the reality of what may be the price we have to pay. Christ had such a decision to make on earth. His own people accused Him, yelled at Him, spat upon Him. Jesus was an innocent man. Christ had the power to save Himself but He knew what His mission was, "To redeem the world." Our mission as Christians is to realize what our Saviour has bought with His love, and share that love and assurance to all those around us. Yes, and to even forgive the unforgivable. That train of thought may not fit into our earthly ideals for our present situations, but it's an ideal worth looking at if we carry the title "Christian". This earth is but a stop on our way to our eternal home. May we this day look to the skies and shout, "Come, Lord Jesus come, I'm ready to go home." The following song by Chris Rice speaks to the questions we may have now. May we leave the world in bigger hands. May we leave it in Yours, O Lord. May we continue to angst for Your coming and prepare our hearts to be ready for that day whenever it may be. |
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