A reckoning

The assassination of the two Jewish diplomats last week should dominate our thoughts about the nature of our culture.  This action should be trumpeted by the media as a wake-up moment due to the hate and violence of sectors of our country.  There shouldn’t be any argument about the wrongness and the guilt of this action.  There is absolutely no excuse for their execution simply for being Jewish.  First, every person is created by God with worth, dignity and value.  Each is given life for the purpose of glorifying Him, yet even for those that will not acknowledge and follow Him, the fact is they are created in the image of God.  And though the image is marred (as all of us are without Christ), this reality and fact are not stamped out.  

In Genesis 9:5-6 we are told, “Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.”  

The value of life is determined by God and He will require an accounting for this heinous act.  Secondly, God shows His valuation of every life by the death of His Son for the sins of mankind, whether a person responds to God’s call of salvation or not.  Thirdly, let’s change a fact or two and see what the reaction would be.  All of us should condemn and be appalled by any record of the KKK executing a black man at any point in our country’s history.  This hateful attitude, based on the color of a person’s skin (a person created by God), is not Biblical, godly or morally acceptable.  If a person committed the same act as a black couple exited a similar type of event, yelling support for the KKK, we would and should be devastated.  The same should be our reaction if it happened to any group that has detractors.  Yet I know that evil exists, hatred is fanned, and violence explodes.  But we should work as the people of God to change hearts, to defend the truth of God’s value of life and seek to put the spotlight of God’s truth on the dark places of Satan’s work.  

I grew up hearing from my parents that “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”  Unfortunately, I believe our country has, in many quarters, waited too long to apply the ounce of prevention.  Instead we need multitudes of pounds of cure applied to conversations and education.  It has been said that if we send our children to Caesar for their education, then don’t be surprised when they return as Romans.  It is time to unpack the “cure” (truth) God has given and instilled in you and put it to good use for His glory and the help of those trapped by the lies of the enemy.

So where is there hope for us today?  First, Vengeance is mine says the Lord — and God has stated He will demand a reckoning.  Second, we are pilgrims and sojourners in this world.  Third, God gives us instructions to work for the peace of the place where we are.  So if God calls us to do this, He will equip and empower us to accomplish what He calls us to do.  “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Pressing on…

Ron Tipton, Senior Pastor