Jim Pace

Good that can come from evil…

December 9, 2011 | 2 Comments

Yesterday was a swirl of emotions.  A sinking feeling when I got the text about a shooting on campus.  Growing fear as we heard about the possibility of another victim.  Relief that more weren’t killed.  Sadness as I reflected on the lives that ended.  Officer Crouse left a wife and five kids.  Five kids!  A friend of mine had to deliver the news to the brand new widow.

So we walk today in the tension of relief and sadness.  The awareness that things aren’t as bad as they could be and still not as good we wish.

Jesus told us this was the case.  That the reality of God’s presence in our world doesn’t mean that evil isn’t also here.  And the fact that evil remains (for now) doesn’t mean God is sitting idly by.  He is active and reminds us to be active as well.

Peter said it like this, “God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness.  He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost.”  2 Peter 3.9 The Message

And it is Jesus’ example of unfair suffering that inspires me to action.  He died for a purpose, for the Kingdom.  For us.  Now he calls on me to lay down my life as he did.

Yesterday reminds me this life isn’t a game.

Categories: Church, Culture, Should We Fire God?, Sticky Issues