This Should Not Be So

As I sit here writing this, I am watching the news coverage of the shooting at UNC Charlotte.

My heart is grieved by this.

I can’t escape the thought — this should not be happening. 

The speechlessness, the staggering, the profound sorrow, the overwhelming sense of violation—here we are, reeling from yet another assault of darkness. 

Simultaneously, I am putting some final thoughts on this week’s message in our series, Everybody, Always. And I can’t help but think that this is the message that the Church needs to be shouting from the rooftops — God’s desire is that we love Everybody, Always.

While evil swirls around us, as followers of Jesus, our greatest weapons are right in front of us — prayer and love.

There are certain things about the world, things we must never ever lose hold of.  We should all know from whence evil comes; and we should know what to do about it. 

While mankind can perform some horrific things, the source for that wickedness lies much deeper than mere human thoughts.

The Scriptures continually warn us of a great evil power, who rules the world, whom we must contend with. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

While others will seek sociological, psychological or political solutions for the evil now ravaging us. We, as genuine Christians, already have answers.

We must pray that God’s will triumph over the will of the evil one — so many words could be said in how to pray for this.

And we must reach as many people as possible with the message that His desire is that we all love Him with complete devotion…. AND that we should love EVERYONE, always — now matter what.

My most sincere prayers are for the people effected by this shooting. And my greatest hope is knowing that one day, LOVE WINS!