October 2002

Christ:
The Landscape of Life

Part Twenty-nine

“LO and BEHOLD”

(M)

“Omnipotence reigns!” [5]

Let us to address some unpleasant statistics for the benefit of all who still maintain you are in control of your lives! Here are details of the recent sniper shootings in Md, Va, and Wash, D.C.:

- 5:20 p.m. Wednesday: Windows shot at Maryland CRAFT STORE-
No one hurt.

- 6:04 p.m. Wednesday: James D. Martin, 55, of Silver Spring, Md.,
KILLED IN PARKING LOT OF LOCAL GROCERY STORE!

- 7:41 a.m. Thursday: James L. ''Sonny'' Buchanan, 39, of Arlington, Va.,
KILLED WHILE CUTTING THE GRASS AT AN AUTO DEALERSHIP!

- 8:12 a.m. Thursday: Taxi driver, Prem Kumar Walekar, 54, of Olney, Md.,
KILLED AT GAS STATION!

- 8:37 a.m. Thursday: Sarah Ramos, 34, of Silver Spring, Md.,
KILLED OUTSIDE POST OFFICE!

- 9:58 a.m. Thursday: Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera, 25, of Silver Spring, Md.,

KILLED WHILE VACUUMING HER VAN
AT A GAS STATION!

- 9:15 p.m. Thursday: Pascal Charlot, 72, of Washington, D.C,
KILLED WHILE STANDING ON A STREET IN
THE NATION’S CAPITAL!

- 2:30 p.m. Friday: 43-year-old woman in Fredericksburg, Va.
WOUNDED IN CRAFT STORE PARKING LOT!

- 8:09 a.m. Monday: 13-year-old boy at Bowie, Md., school.
WOUNDED WHEN ENTERING SCHOOL.

                Over the course of 5 1/2 days, six law-abiding citizens were massacred in cold blood; with two more seriously wounded; in addition to the first failed attempt at more unwarranted carnage! And in what high-risk activities were these folks engaged? They were buying groceries and crafts, mowing a lawn, mailing a parcel, vacuuming a car, standing on a street, and going to school!!
                 These victims were just ordinary people- not high-profile drug dealers, gang members or criminals who thought their lives were secure! They were not hanging around bars and dark alleys during the late hours of the night. These people were decently occupied in everyday enterprises at respectable times of the day! They had not committed some offense against the shooter that sparked retaliation; in fact, there is no indication that any of these people ever met their assassin! There clearly appears to be no link between either the victims and their executioner; or between the victims themselves! As far as we know, there was no connection between any of these individuals. So, what is the answer? How does one protect himself from such a tragedy? What did these folks do wrong? Do we refuse to buy groceries or crafts? Do we refuse to mow lawns? Do we never mail letters or vacuum cars? Do our children never go to school? Do we dare not stand on a street?
                 I am not trying to stir up irrational fears in your hearts, beloved; rather, to open your hearts to this glorious Truth: GOD, ALONE, IS IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS!! As Pr 16:4 says,

“THE LORD HAS MADE ALL THINGS FOR HIMSELF,
YES, EVEN THE WICKED FOR THE DAY OF EVIL!!”

                Yes, even when a soul is suddenly returned to its maker by an act of unprovoked violence, it is still an event that the Lord has made happen for His own wise purposes! So far, the only “clue” the authorities are making public is a tarot card bearing the words, ''Dear policeman, I am God,'' found near a bullet-casing outside the school where the 13-year-old boy was critically wounded! If this is not a sign of the times, I don’t know what is! The tarot card is evidence of the dark powers being unleashed on the earth; and the challenge to human authority- “I am god”- reveals the spirit of antichrist on its throne of the flesh mind, which is the lawless one also called the devil; as well as “The man of sin and son of perdition who opposes, and exalts himself above, all that is called- or is worshiped as- God; so he- as a god- sits in the temple of God, declaring himself to be a god!” (2 Th 2:3-4) But 2 Co 6:16 says, “Don’t you realize, YOU are the TEMPLE of the Living God?” This tragedy is a case of, “There but for the Grace of God, go I!” For the tormented soul perpetrating these sniper attacks is under the same watchful eye of a loving God as his victims; for “Where sin abounds, much more Grace abounds?” (Ro 5:20) As David once confessed to God, “The wrath of man shall praise You; the remainder, You shall restrain!” (Ps 76:10) If episodes of evil like this cannot ultimately praise God, He promises to restrain them! We may have not have control over our own lives, or over the lives of others, but believers have this confidence in Christ: whatever happens, God has allowed it for good purpose; and it shall praise Him when “ALL things work together for good- (are appraised as good)- to those who love God and are called according to His Purpose!” (Ro 8:28) Omnipotence has promised this, so it must be so!

[TO BE CONTINUED]