Footholds in Forgiveness

I've waited to comment on the VA Tech shootings. I can only imagine what the family members and friends of those killed last Monday have gone through. They will be grieving for a very long time. I have lost family members and friends and it is never easy.

I was told when my father's fight with cancer was winding down, that I was lucky to have had time to prepare. I've never understood what could make a person say such a thing. I know that in their way, the people who said that to me were probably trying to help me prepare, but the effort was fruitless.

On some level I was trying to will my father to go on living. I loved him so. I can remember easily these sixteen years later, standing with my mother, next to his bed as he passed from this life and stepped into eternity with God. Even now as I write, I am becoming overwhelmed with the emotions that were so strong those years ago, and I am still moved to the point where I have to fight back the tears. I still miss him every day. It is really tough, even though I know he's in heaven with the God he trusted.

In my opinion you are never prepared for the loss. Jesus knew full well that his friend Lazarus was dying. Later, when He knew that not only was Lazarus dead, but that He Himself would raise his beloved friend back to life, Jesus still wept. I believe that He wept because He hates death, period.

I can't guess at what it feels like to be surprised by the phone call, to catch the events on the news, or to have a staff or classmate call and tell me that my loved one has been ripped from me. What must that be like? These folks are really in need of thoughtful and fervent prayer.

I know that some people reject Jesus because they believe it is cruel for God to condemn those to punishment who will not put their faith in His Son. They view God as cruel for this. Nothing could be further from the truth. God does not change, and it is the same Jesus Christ who wept over Lazarus' death, who does not want anyone to perish. He is perfect, and His perfect justice demands that men respond to Him through faith in righteousness, or suffer for breaking His Law. James tells us that if we break one law, we are guilty of breaking them all. People often bristle at the smallest law that might inhibit them in our society. How much more will they loudly object to a much more perfect law? God is not cruel. He demands that men treat other men as they would be treated. This is the reason that this young man's actions are so heinous.

I feel sorry also, for the family of the young man who committed these acts of murder. It is very unfortunate that they are being so ill-treated by some who have decided to punish them for his actions. They are very much in need of prayer also. Last October, another man murdered several young girls in an Amish school in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The members of the Amish community set a standard for forgiveness among men, that revealed to society what it means to be a follower of Christ. They reached out not only with forgiveness to the shooter, but they befriended the man's family.

As much as it pains some folks, this is what needs to happen here. Aren't we guilty of murder in our hearts? No? "21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder,' and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire." " Matthew 5:21-22

When we start to think that we are any better than a man who does something like this, it is best to remember that it is only by God's grace that we have been forgiven for our sins. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, and pray for the grieving, grieve with them in our way, and know that even in something like this, God is involved, in control, and that He will use in some remarkable way for good, that which was intended for evil.

Ephesians 4:31-3231 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.