Friday, July 20, 2012

Eyes Open

     All I could think when I first heard was..."it could have been us."  It's times like these that it's so easy to lose our faith, but it's times like these that we have to keep a hold on our faith the most.  It is not a question of "why them?!" but a question of "what do we have to learn from this?" that we should be asking.  And I'm not saying to move on, to put a smile on your face, or to act like you're not hurting, because we all know that denial does nothing good to our hearts.  But what I am saying is this event did NOT just happen, there is a reason for everything...no matter how terrifying it could be.  Years after 9/11 we learned and we are still learning what we need to do.  After Columbine too, we gathered as a nation.  What is it now? What can we do? ...to help ourselves, to help those who are hurting.  Ephesians 6:12 teaches us "our struggle is not with the flesh and blood, but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness with the evil spirits in the heavens."  Evil has always been around, and it always will be until the day the Lord comes and we unite as one faith.  But in this we must not forget that evil is strong too, and he can manipulate us into something else, something we were not designed to be.  But it is us, our soul, our heart, and our faith that helps us break out of that evil, to turn to the Lord and ask "what is your will?" "what shall we do?" "what do we have to learn from this?"  What happened in Aurora, Colorado last night/this morning at The Dark Knight Rises premiere is unbelievable, it is terrifying and it is wrong.  Prayers and thoughts and tears go out.  Lord bless those who are hurting, just bless those who are hurting.  And keep us all strong.  It is not wrong to mourn, for "blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Mat 5:4)  But, as batman taught us...why do we fall?  So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.  "Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your guard.  So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a brestplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Eph 6:13-17)