Responding to Tragedy-The Overcoming Love of Christ
April 20, 1999, is a day etched in my memory. I was driving home from work one evening and was stuck in a traffic jam when I happened to pass one of my friends. He rolled his window down and asked me if I had heard the news; there had been a school shooting. As soon as I got home I turned on the news and was shocked and stunned by the images I saw. It was the day of the Columbine massacre, where two gunmen stormed a Colorado high school and killed 12 students and 1 teacher.
I was reminded of that terrible day this week, of course, after hearing of the overwhelming tragedy at Virginia Tech University. 32 people, mainly university students, were killed. Such events are numbing and horrifying, and showcase how our generation is under more Satanic attack than any before us. We live in a world inundated with violence. Terrorism is a constant threat. Tens of thousands of babies are murdered every day through legalized abortion. Shootings, war, natural disaster; the list goes on and on. I remember how sad I was after the Columbine incident, and I asked God what we can do to combat such a problem. The answer He gave me is found in Romans 8:37, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him [Christ] who loved us.”
It is only the love of Christ that will overcome our hate-filled world. Our love and good feelings are insufficient, but Jesus’ love is omnipotent. Real love has tremendous power. Politicians’ bright ideas and innovative laws can’t solve the world’s problems; better education won’t get it done; even good sermons aren’t enough to overcome the hatred in the world and the sin in fallen man. Only a demonstration of Christ’s love is sufficient.
What is Christ’s love, and how does it look like in us? First let’s see what it’s not. The love of God is not a sentimental, man-made feel good attitude that tells everyone they’re okay. Rather, the love of God is a real power that stands against sin and for righteousness. It looks down on no one but points everyone up to the real source of life, God Himself. And real love, at its very essence, is sacrificial. After all, that’s how God showed His love for us, by giving of His own life (Romans 5:8); and that’s the greatest love we can show to others (John 15:13).
So let’s overflow with the real love of Christ. We need to preach the Gospel, but let’s make sure we are coupling that with genuine sacrifice and compassion for others. If our generation is going to be saved, it must start with the demonstration of God’s love in us. Binding the devil won’t do any good if we don’t follow it with real acts of love to real individuals. We must let them know there’s a God who loves them, a God who can overcome all hatred, violence, and rage. So reach out to that young man who follows a violence-filled religion. Pray for and serve that young girl at your school who eats all alone and think no one loves her. Bring hope to your classmate who is from a broken home. We can transform our generation, one act of love, one individual at a time; not through our power, but through the overwhelming love of Christ! There is hope!
I was reminded of that terrible day this week, of course, after hearing of the overwhelming tragedy at Virginia Tech University. 32 people, mainly university students, were killed. Such events are numbing and horrifying, and showcase how our generation is under more Satanic attack than any before us. We live in a world inundated with violence. Terrorism is a constant threat. Tens of thousands of babies are murdered every day through legalized abortion. Shootings, war, natural disaster; the list goes on and on. I remember how sad I was after the Columbine incident, and I asked God what we can do to combat such a problem. The answer He gave me is found in Romans 8:37, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him [Christ] who loved us.”
It is only the love of Christ that will overcome our hate-filled world. Our love and good feelings are insufficient, but Jesus’ love is omnipotent. Real love has tremendous power. Politicians’ bright ideas and innovative laws can’t solve the world’s problems; better education won’t get it done; even good sermons aren’t enough to overcome the hatred in the world and the sin in fallen man. Only a demonstration of Christ’s love is sufficient.
What is Christ’s love, and how does it look like in us? First let’s see what it’s not. The love of God is not a sentimental, man-made feel good attitude that tells everyone they’re okay. Rather, the love of God is a real power that stands against sin and for righteousness. It looks down on no one but points everyone up to the real source of life, God Himself. And real love, at its very essence, is sacrificial. After all, that’s how God showed His love for us, by giving of His own life (Romans 5:8); and that’s the greatest love we can show to others (John 15:13).
So let’s overflow with the real love of Christ. We need to preach the Gospel, but let’s make sure we are coupling that with genuine sacrifice and compassion for others. If our generation is going to be saved, it must start with the demonstration of God’s love in us. Binding the devil won’t do any good if we don’t follow it with real acts of love to real individuals. We must let them know there’s a God who loves them, a God who can overcome all hatred, violence, and rage. So reach out to that young man who follows a violence-filled religion. Pray for and serve that young girl at your school who eats all alone and think no one loves her. Bring hope to your classmate who is from a broken home. We can transform our generation, one act of love, one individual at a time; not through our power, but through the overwhelming love of Christ! There is hope!
posted by Cameron at 11:28 PM
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