BiblicalInsights.net

May 24, 2022 a male, 18 years old, shoots his grandmother and then proceeds to Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX and kills 19 children and two school teachers.  He is shot and killed by a boarder patrol officer. The community and nation are stunned and shocked.  This tragedy will be scrutinized in many ways over the next few days.  The nagging question is why? What was the motive of the shooter?  The specific details of this question remain unanswered at this time.  However, the evil represented in the actions of this person is not unfamiliar.  He is not alone in being in the grip of Satan.  Jesus states, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34).
The Lost
Those who give themselves over to sin become corrupted by that sin.  They are capable of horrendous acts of violence against themselves and others.  Those outside of Christ are empty souls.  Five words characterize them.  The first word is deceived.  They are not guided by the truth revealed by God.  They are guided by strong delusions.  When we reject God’s truth, we enter into darkness.  Darkness is the second word.  Those in darkness are ignorant of the truth.  In darkness, the understanding is compromised and these individuals are guided by perverted thinking.  Paul states, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Eph. 4:17-19).  The third word is destruction.  Sin always destroys.  Sin always corrupts.  Sin always brings condemnation from God which results in damnation.  Corrupt minds produce corrupt works.  The fourth word is despair.  Despair captures the essence of life without God.  It brings meaninglessness and hopelessness.  This defines even further those who manifest empty souls.  The last word is death.  But, this is not physical death, it is spiritual death.  The spiritually dead are separated from God due to sin.  The corruption and destruction caused by sin ruins the mind and heart of man.  These people are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1).  Paul further characterizes those who are spiritually lost, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others (Eph. 2:2-3).
The Saved
God offers us a better life.  Christ was manifested to give us life and more–the abundant life (John 10:10-the spiritually optimal life).  This better life begins with enlightenment.  We must know the truth.  We must know God and His Will.  God has revealed Himself in two great books:  His created world and His Word.  The ultimate quest of the human heart is to know God!  To know God, we must seek Him diligently (Acts 17:27).  He is not far from every one of us.  Second, we must follow the Light.  Jesus Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12).  Jesus said, “he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”  Being a disciple of Jesus is wholly transformative.  “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:4-6).  This transformation begins with our spiritual conversion.  When we obey the gospel we put our trust in the Lord and set our affections upon Him and obey Him.  We repent of our sins.  We confess Christ that He is the Son of God.  Then, we are baptized (immersed) into the name of Christ for the remission of sin (Acts 2:38).  Undergoing this new birth (John 3:3-5), we become new creatures (II Cor. 5:17) to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4).  The old man is crucified.  The new man is adorned (Eph. 4:20-32).  Now, we have hope in Christ.  We have new meaning and purpose.  We are defined as God’s children (Gal. 3:26-27).  We are productive, perfected, and promised everlasting life.  We are alive in Christ Jesus!  Empty souls give way to enriched and empowered souls. Once again, Paul declares, “But if our gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost.  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Cor. 4:4-5).
Too many follow the god of this world to their own destruction.  Too many company in the darkness.  When our hearts are shocked by the darkness, it is the time to run to the Light.