What Just Happened

Our prayers are with the heartbroken families that have been so wounded by the act of despicable and vomitous evil that occurred a few days ago, when a young man entered an elementary school a few weeks before Christmas, and murdered young children and adults. It was a terrible and tragic day.

The follow up was completely predictable. First, as is common in these events, he killed himself. Second, as is also common in these events, the public handwringing began in earnest... the heartfelt “whys” shot heavenward... and pundits of every ilk and with every conceivable agenda began spewing their opinions and proposed solutions.

Of course, some blame the gun. If guns like that were illegal, this would not have happened. Of course, he broke any number of laws in this act, but if we had just one more, it would have stopped it. Some are blaming it on mental illness, and / or the drugs prescribed to treat it. And this morning, I received an article in my inbox that blamed it on the breakdown of the family on America. I'm certain there are a plethora of other reasons that you've seen.

But may I humbly suggest that every one of these proposed reasons are incorrect. They are all, at best, symptoms. But none are the root cause of what happened in Sandy Hook this past week.

The Bible says: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1Peter 5:8)

In Ephesians 2:2, our enemy, the Devil, is called the ”prince and power of the air”.

What we saw in Sandy Hook was evil... demonstrative and illustrative of what our enemy, the Devil, desires for this world every day and in every way. Jesus said he is a liar and a murderer:

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. (John 8:44-45)

And were he given free reign, he would murder everyone and everywhere he could.

“So, Pastor, are you saying that the root cause of last week’s horror is Satan?”

No, I am not. Because just as the Bible tells us of the devils’s intent, so too it tells us that God restrains him. Satan could not touch Job without God’s allowance. (Cf. Job 1:10-12, 2:6) And neither can he touch you, or me, or our children, unless God removes His restraints. (Cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:7)

And that is the root cause, I believe. God’s hand of protection has been, or is being, lifted from America.

God’s patience is almost limitless. But it does have a limit. We see that truth demonstrated in the account of the flood. (Cf. Genesis 6:3)

We see it when He describes His patience toward the Amorites, and His warning that there is coming a day when that patience will be exhausted and their judgment will be assured. (the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. Genesis 15:16)

We see it in the Psalms, as He explained His giving up on Israel: But my people would not hearken to my voice; And Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: And they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, And Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, And turned my hand against their adversaries. (Psalm 81:11-14)

And we see it plainly taught in Romans 1. Read it and notice the prevalence of the phrase, “God gave them up.”

Oh, our God is a merciful God... He is loving... He is long suffering and patient. But His Word is clear that His patience has limits, and that those who presume upon it too long find that He gives up on them.

Our country, and our people, have by and large rejected their God. Its interesting to me that this event took place during the Christmas season, the time of year when our country’s rejection of the Savior is more pronounced than any other time of the year. Has He given up on America? Has He lifted the restraining hand that holds back the fury of the enemy? Has He said, in effect, “You say you want Me out of the picture? Fine. You are on your own?”

Only God knows. But our response as Christians is clear. We need to pray for and work for revival in this land. We need to proclaim the Christ of Christmas as never before! Because it is either too late... or soon to be too late!

America does not need more laws to be ignored by people so intent on evil that they are willing to die committing it. America does not need more mental health discussions, or more antidepressant drugs. America needs one thing above all others - America needs to turn its collective hearts back to God and the Savior. America needs the Lord!

Brothers and Sisters. We who know the answer must proclaim it. Before God’s hand lifts completely from this land we all love and call home.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (Hosea 4:6)