This Present Darkness
And here we go yet again…
This week we saw yet another one of the darkest days in our country’s history.
A young husband, father, leader who inspired a generation was murdered in what looked like a professional assassination.
Whether you liked his style or tactics or not, he was making a difference by drawing young people to Christ, to conservative values and to understand and debate the moral issues of our day and time.
And now his wife is a widow and his children will grow up without their dad all because of hate, anger, political rhetoric and divisiveness in this present darkness.
Further evidence that we as a nation have lost our way and have turned our back on God.
Further evidence of the ills of political religion.
Further evidence that we live in a broken and fallen world.
Further evidence of just how far our political parties have divided and angered our nation.
And yes parties is plural.
The rhetoric and leadership of both sides have failed us as a nation.
Then and now.
We know that violence never accomplishes anything of value in this world. I pray that we can somehow set aside this self inflicted polarization so that we may have some inkling of this “great” nation left to leave our children and our grandchildren.
I know the violence was from just one (or maybe a few) in the overall population, but anger stirs deep in the heart of many. This past presidential election season (and the ones four and eight years prior) has driven home that fact… and has driven home the meaning of this passage in 2 Chronicles like never before...
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT
Where are our peacemakers?
Where are our leaders?
Where are the voices of the faithful?
Where is our faith?
As Believers, we are the “my people called by my name” that God is speaking of in 2 Chronicles.
My prayer is that that infamous day will somehow serve as a wake up call for us and that we will “humble ourselves and pray and seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways...”
That day on a college campus in Utah was a dark moment in this present darkness. However, darkness cannot extinguish the light in the hearts of the faithful.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5 NLT
We cannot allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by darkness. It’s time for the faithful to step out of this present darkness and shine. Shine like never before. It’s time for men and women of God to hit our knees and pray... praying for revival and renewal as we seek His face.
Where are you man of God?
Where are you peacemaker?
Where you city on a hill?
Where are you church?
Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem
