-Pastor Robbie Cheuvront
The events of this past week have left the entire country with heartbreak and sorrow. And if you are a parent, then the weight of what has happened sits even heavier on you. I can’t even imagine the loss and hurt the parents of the children in Newtown are experiencing. As a church, our hearts and prayers go out to them. As a parent, even more so.
I’ve wept, and cried out to God this week, “How long, oh LORD? How long!” For, it is not right that these things have happened. It’s never okay when evil takes its toll on the image bearers of God. Make no mistake. Yes, the Bible tells us to love one-another, and to forgive. But there’s a difference in forgiveness, and hating evil.
We should hate evil with every ounce of our being. It should cause a righteous anger deep within our souls that swells up from the depths of our heart. And it should cause us to cry out, “How long, oh, LORD? How long!” You see, the Bible speaks very clearly about the fall of man, the result of sin, and God’s judgment of sin yet to come. Yesterday, Pastor Erik’s sermon was directed at this very subject (in light of what has happened in Newtown). If you would like to listen to this, you can do so here.
If you are not a Christ follower and are reading this, I want you to know that this deed that has been perpetrated upon these children is pure evil. And God has explicitly shown, and said, what He has done and will do to evil. You need to know that God’s glory is His upmost priority, and that anything that stands in opposition to it will have His wrath visited upon it, which ironically enough brings Him glory.
Friends, we need to weep for these children. We need to weep for the parents and the community. Our hearts should be so heavy today and the days to come that we are wrought with sorrow over this tragic loss. But we should also find comfort in knowing that the God who spoke the world into existence is bringing all things to their appointed end. And then He is going to return. And when he does, the evil of this world will have judgment passed on it. And then it will be no more. This is the hope we have in Christ. This is what brings us to repentance of our own sin. This is why we turn to the one who comforts the hurting, strengthens the weak, and takes the burden of those who cannot bear it.
If you are a Christ follower today, trust in the promises of the LORD. His grace IS sufficient for you. He will never forsake you. He will give you peace that surpasses all understanding. For, He has given you life.
If you are not someone who has submitted themselves to the authority of Christ, I beg you, seek the Lord while He may be found. Friends, do not be on the wrong side of the line when Christ returns and exacts His revenge on sin and evil. I beg you, seek the Lord while He may be found.
With love and sorrow in my heart,
-Robbie Cheuvront
